ECOWAS joint-security agents arrest 74 drug traffickers back

posted on Wed, 08 Aug at 05:54

Law enforcement officers from agencies responsible for drug investigations in three ECOWAS countries have completed a week-long capacity building training-cum-operational activities in Benin, Togo and Ghana, during which some 74 drug traffickers were arrested, while 7,894,275kg of different drugs were seized.


The combined events, according to the commission, were held between July 23 and 29, 2012, and funded by ECOWAS, with INTERPOL’s trainers and ECOWAS representatives participating as observers.

The operation, code-named “ATAKORA”, was launched with particular focus on drug trafficking at airports, sea ports and land borders in the three countries.

It engaged 36 investigators and law enforcement officers in the respective countries.

The breakdown of the seizures showed that Benin accounted for 376,675 kg of drugs, Ghana 24 kg and Togo 7,493,600 kg.

The operation was carried out within the framework of the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on Drugs and INTERPOL’s action in support of member countries from the African region.

The action was aimed at detecting and dismantling organised criminal networks using West Africa to traffic cocaine, heroin, cannabis and psychotropic substances.