EU claims it spends €50m to fight illicit drug trafficking

The European Union claims it has contributed 50 million Euros to the fight against drug use and illicit drug trafficking in West Africa.

The Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to ECOWAS, Kurt Cornelis stated this in an interview with journalists at the launch of the 2014-2017 West African report on drugs in Abuja Thursday.

He said that the programme started in 2014 through EU implementation partners, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) following reported increase in drug abuse in the region.

According to him, it was also discovered, years ago, that West Africa was used to transport drugs, hence the bloc’s interest in funding programmes that will curb the menace.

“We support ECOWAS in many areas and we have noticed that drug use and illicit trafficking of drugs have become a problem in West Africa. So we decided to increase our support to ECOWAS in this area.

“I am glad that after a couple of years of work, finally we have a scientific report which demonstrates many aspects of drug abuse and trafficking in West Africa.

“And we have reconfirmed that the problem is growing and more needs to be done. On this particular programme, we have contributed 50 million Euros for the funding of activities.

“We knew that West Africa acted as a kind of platform, or transit for drugs towards Europe. But now we have to understand that the consumption of drugs is really on the rise in Africa and should be of concern to government,” he said.

He explained that the funds were meant for capacity building, tackling drug abuse and trafficking as well as obtaining valid data and report on drugs adding that It took a while for the programme to yield results.

“But we are happy with what has been achieved so far. I think we can end the project on a good note,” he said.