Maritime Crime and Piracy
In recent years, the Gulf of Guinea has been at the epicenter of global discussions on maritime security as a result of the incidents of piracy, kidnapping and armed robbery at sea. Very few incidents result in arrests, investigations, prosecutions and trials. With more than 90% of global trade carried out by sea, the economic effects on countries like Nigeria and its trading partners are especially burdensome.
Our work
UNODC, therefore, continues to support the Nigerian Government and its relevant agencies through legal and policy advisory services, training of law enforcement officials, prosecutors and judges, mentoring and other capacity-building measures in tackling piracy and other forms of maritime crime more effectively. In addition, UNODC works with local communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria to raise awareness and address the root causes of piracy and criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea by implementing community-based initiatives aimed at preventing crime (new addition)
UNODC has also partnered with the Nigerian Navy to upgrade one of the Navy’s training institutions to a Centre of Excellence for training on Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS). Since 2022, UNODC has trained over 300 maritime law enforcement personnel from within the Gulf of Guinea in a joint bilingual setting.
Our partners
Key partners for UNODC's work in this area include the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Department of Public Prosecution for the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Federal Department of Fisheries and the Bayelsa State Government among others.
Our projects
- Regional Responses to Criminal Justice Systems Responses to the threat of Maritime Crime project (2022-2026), funded by Denmark under its Official Development Assistance (ODA) within the framework of the third phase of the Denmark Maritime Security Program for the Gulf of Guinea
- Regional Responses to Criminal Justice Systems Responses to the Threat of Maritime Crime project (2022-2024), funded by Denmark under its Non-Official Development Assistance (ODA) within the framework of the third phase of the Denmark Maritime Security Program for the Gulf of Guinea
- Gulf of Guinea Maritime Law Enforcement Capacity Support (2023-2024) funded by the Government of Italy
- Support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS) project (2019-2024), funded by the European Union
- Support to Establish Visit-Board-Search and Seizure (VBSS) Training Centres in Ghana and Nigeria within Zone E and F, and to Research Activities on the Regional Piracy Networks project (2021-2024), funded by Denmark within the framework of the second phase of the Denmark Maritime Security Program for the Gulf of Guinea
- Support to Rummage Capacity (Nigeria) project (January-March 2023), funded by the government of the United Kingdom through the Home Office International Operations, British High Commission, Nigeria
- VBSS support and evidence collection project to counter piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (2022-2023), funded by the Government of Italy
- Combating Piracy and Maritime Insecurity in Nigeria through Community-based Crime Prevention Strategies Project (2021-2023), funded by the Government of Germany
- Strengthen Jurisdictional and Criminal Laws and Practices to Effectively Prosecute Piracy and other Maritime Crimes through Simulated Crime Scene Exercises and Trials to Ensure Legal Finish in the Region of the Gulf of Guinea (2020-2022) funded by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (US INL)
- UNODC GMCP Analysis of Criminal Networks, Pirate Kingpins and Crime-Linkages in the Gulf of Guinea (Nigeria in particular) project (2020-2021), funded by Denmark
- Strengthen Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies Capacities in the Gulf of Guinea through Engineering Support project (2020-2021), funded by the Russian Federation
- Strengthening the Maritime Law Enforcement Response to Piracy and Maritime Crime in the Gulf of Guinea project (2019-2021), funded by Denmark under Phase One of the Denmark Maritime Security Program for the Gulf of Guinea
- Strengthening Strategic Approaches to Maritime Security in Nigeria project (2019-2021), funded by Denmark under Phase One of the Denmark Maritime Security Program for the Gulf of Guinea
- Support and Test the Nigerian Legal System through a Simulated Trial of a Maritime Piracy Case project (2018-2021), funded by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (US INL)
- Strengthening the Nigerian Criminal Justice Response to Maritime Crime Threats project (2019-2020), funded by the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK FCO)
- Support to Fair and Efficient Piracy and Armed Robbery Trials in Nigeria project (2018-2020), funded by the United States Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs (US AFB)
