By HAMZA SULEIMAN

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Friday said drug trafficking generated an estimated 400 billion dollars annually in Sahel and Lake Chad Basin regions.

Ousmane Tour?, (UNODC) Country Representative for Nigeria, disclosed this while speaking at the closing of a week-long meeting of the 5th Lake Chad Governors? Forum in Maiduguri.

He said that the vast sum being generated by the illicit economies in the region was fueling a wide range of criminal activities, including arms smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering.

Tour? said the criminal organisations involved in drug trafficking were increasingly diversifying their operations, establishing complex value chains that link the drug trade with other forms of transnational organised crime.

The envoy lamented how the exploitation of natural resources, such as gold mining, often intersects with drug trafficking activities in the conflict zones.

He pointed out that the ongoing challenges of securing evidence on the connections between drug trafficking and terrorism further underscore the need for more investment in research and evidence-based studies.

The envoy also stressed the importance of regional cooperation, calling for stronger border control measures and institutional reforms to combat corruption with the support of law enforcement agencies.

He said that the vulnerability of youth and women to drug abuse needed critical attention for preventive measures to address the root causes of addiction and trafficking in the region.

Also speaking, Agnieszka Torek, from the European Union Delegation, raised key concerns about the implementation of counter trafficking programmes on the ground.

Torek acknowledged the EU?s collaboration with the UNODC and other partners.

She said the European Union would continue to prioritise the fight against illicit money flows and money laundering.

Omar Kataib, a Chadian Diplomat, also raised concerns about the involvement of law enforcement agents in drug trafficking.

He drew attention to reports of military personnel and police being complicit in the trade.

The envoy said that strengthening the legal framework, including the introduction of harsher penalties such as life imprisonment, could serve as a deterrent.

Kataib suggested that the law should apply equally to both civilians and uniformed personnel involved in trafficking.

Dr Zainab Challube, an academic at the University of Maiduguri, raised the critical issue pertaining the use and application of research in addressing drug trafficking.

She questioned the mechanisms in place to bridge these gaps and ensure that academic research was accessible and applicable in real-world drug trafficking solutions.

Challube called for greater collaboration between academia and international organisations such as UNODC, stressing the need to adapt research findings into actionable policies and practices. (NAN)

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