International experts address drug trafficking and consumption with support from EU-ACT 2

The high-level meeting of the Eastern and Southern African Commission on Drugs (ESACD) was held in Zanzibar, Tanzania. It addressed crucial issues such as the impact of synthetic drugs, highlighting the growing threat they pose to both public safety and health in the region. It also discussed the challenges facing national monitoring of drug markets, as well as the need for accurate data to formulate effective policies.

This event brought together regional and international experts to address the challenges of drug trafficking and consumption in the region, and to explore strategic solutions, including the creation of a Regional Drug Observatory.

The main objective of EU-ACT 2’s participation was to strengthen collaboration with the ESACD and other key actors, promoting the development of this observatory that will improve surveillance, data analysis and response capacity to the drug problem in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Ana Zamacona, EU-ACT 2 project coordinator, and Paolo Iacopini, regional coordinator for East Africa, emphasized that “data monitoring is indispensable in the fight against drug trafficking and it is essential to adopt a comprehensive approach that transcends traditional law enforcement tactics. This involves incorporating a variety of tools and perspectives, creating a comprehensive system capable of disrupting drug trafficking networks and actively involving communities and in line with respect for human rights.”

EU-ACT 2, in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the General Secretariat and the Eastern and Southern African Commission on Drugs (ESACD), and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), will support the establishment of an Indian Ocean Regional Drugs Observatory. This partnership will focus on sharing best practices and exchanging experiences of successful models from Europe and other regions. This process will incorporate lessons learned from other experiences under FIIAPP-led projects such as COPOLADIII in Latin America and CADAP7 in Central Asia. The observatory will cover the countries of Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Reunion and Comoros.

The Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Tanzania and the East African Community, Christine Grau, concluded the event by highlighting the European Union’s support in adopting a regional approach to strengthen the collective response to the threat of synthetic drugs in the region, strengthening data monitoring through a regional drug observatory, and promoting a holistic approach that balances security and public health.