Reinforcing the fight against irregular migration in Gambia

Strengthening the fight against the criminal organisations behind irregular migration and human trafficking  in the Gambia is now a reality. The European NET COP project managed jointly by France and Spain and based in Dakar, has already been presented in the African country.   

Operated by the FIIAPP and the General Immigration and Borders Commission of the National Police, the intention is to coordinate the Joint Operational Patronages (JOP) and the Joint Investigation Teams (JIT) of each country to create a network for sharing information that helps to achieve the main objective of the project. The line of action entails looking upon irregular migrants as victims, so that the criminal networks and not the migrants are pursued.  

The most recent country where the project has been presented is The Gambia, which is operating a Common Operational Partenariat  (COP) of Spanish national police. At the presentation event, the country’s authorities were very interested in the project due to the importance of international cooperation to combat these criminal organisations.   

In fact, the Minister of the Interior of The Gambia, the Inspector General of the Gambian Police and the Deputy Director of the Immigration Department (GID) welcomed the members of the NET COP and the COP-Gambia at the launch event.   

The NET COP project operates in Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea-Conarky, Gambia, Niger, Mali and the Ivory Coast. This visit brought the first round of presentations to an end, with the exception of Mauritania and Mali, which will resume when the political situation in the latter allows.