Brasilia, 31 August 2022 - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Brazil supported the organization and implementation of the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) tactical training on riverine operations in Manaus, Amazonia State. The training took place from 18 August to 1 September and was organized with the support of the Federal Police (PF) of the State of Amazonas, namely the Centre for Integration and Improvement in Environmental Police (CIAPA), for 24 police officers from Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa, as well as GMCP members from the Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Panama, Kenya, and Brazil.
The training was the result of a collaboration established between GMCP and CIAPA, facilitated by the Law Enforcement Assistance Programme to Reduce Tropical Deforestation (LEAP), taking into consideration the relevant experience of Brazil in tackling drug trafficking especially in riverine settings. Brazil is an important transit country in the cocaine trafficking chain between South America and Africa, accounting for 70 per cent of the quantities reported in individual seizures in the period 2015 to 2021. Federal Police operating CIAPA have extensive experience in tactical and operational training in forest and riverine environments, including with bordering countries, especially Peru and Colombia.
Representatives from UNODC Brazil attended the training from 26 to 28 August and held meetings with local authorities and UN entities. Future training workshops at CIAPA are expected to take place under LEAP, Pris-COOP and additional GMCP projects.
