Africa-Press – Mauritius. A three-day training on “Combating Drug Trafficking” culminated with thirty-eight participants from law enforcing agencies receiving their certificates during an award ceremony held, yesterday, at the Custom House, Mer Rouge.
The training, held from 26 to 28 April 2022, aimed to enhance the skills of those participants in identifying precursor chemicals and dangerous drugs, collect evidence and exploit information, and employ operational skills to combat drug trafficking.
It was an initiative of the US Government in collaboration with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Chargé d’Affaires of US Embassy, Mrs Judes E.
DeBaere; the Regional Security Officer at the US Embassy, Mr Val Penascino; the Director of Customs, Mr V. Ramburun; and other personalities were present.
In her keynote address, Mrs DeBaere stated that the DEA and U. S. Government will continue to assist all nations in the East Africa region to combat drug trafficking. Such initiatives, she added, will help to increase maritime border security and strengthen investigative capabilities.
For his part, Mr Ramburun expressed his gratitude to the US Government and the US Embassy for their unflinching support in building the capacity of enforcement agencies in Mauritius.
He recalled that in the same endeavor, Mauritian Enforcement Officers were trained on Narcotics Investigations in February 2018. MRA Customs Officers were also given the opportunity to attend training courses at the U.
S. funded International Law Enforcement Academy in Botswana, he added. The Director of Customs further highlighted that during the past five years, MRA Customs Officers have detected dangerous drugs worth more Rs5 billion.
This, he said, has been possible due to the acquisition of latest state of the art equipment. A drug loo to facilitate the hygienic recovery of pellets is now operational at the airport thereby reducing lengthy and delicate procedures, he added.
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
