United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

The UNODC Regional Office in East Africa (ROEA)

Disrupting Arms Trafficking in Somali Waters

Bosasso (Puntland), 31 May 2023 – Across the Gulf of Aden, weapons are reportedly illegally trafficked to terrorist and organized criminal groups in Somalia and the region, increasing the possibility of violence against civilians, funding further illicit activity, and undermining the effectiveness of the partial arms embargo by the UN Security Council. That is partly why the UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme is delivering a series of activities to enhance the capacity of Somali maritime law enforcement to disrupt arms trafficking and associated crimes by sea. 

In Puntland, for instance, UNODC continues to partner with the Bossaso Port Maritime Police Unit (BPMPU) to provide a wide range of localized support, including to build officers’ marine mechanical skills for the maintenance of engines that enable consistent patrolling of territorial waters to interdict vessels suspected of trafficking weapons. The BPMPU Commander, Col. Warsame Ahmed Shirwac, explained that UNODC’s help has enabled the Unit to “Deter many illegal activities by conducting anti-maritime crime operations, leading to several successful seizures over the past two months.”

In May 2023, six officers and inspectors of the BPMPU completed a four-week boat crew engineering course, acquiring theoretical and practical familiarity with outboard engine servicing, storage, and transportation. Importantly, officers also learned standard underway operation checks and fire prevention techniques for streamlined safety inspections and responses. Of the six participants, all reported that the course helped them to better meet the BPMPU’s mission of enhancing the security of territorial waters.

The instructor of the training, Mr. Anil Kulatunga, explained that “Engine maintenance and fire prevention are fundamental capabilities for any maritime law enforcement unit to execute patrol operations in response to maritime crimes, including the trafficking in weapons and ammunition, which remains a threat in Somali water.” Without effective maritime policing of arms trafficking, government tracking of equipment and supplies banned by the Security Council is rendered even more difficult. 

Looking ahead, the UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme intends to maintain its support to the BPMPU and other Somali maritime law enforcement units, including by expanding its scope of training to maritime crime scene preservation, thanks to funding from the United States Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. David O’Connell (David.OConnell@un.org)

Western Indian Ocean Programme Coordinator

Global Maritime Crime Programme

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Click here to visit the UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme website.

Carqaladeynta Ka ganacsiga Hubka Sharci darada ah ee Badda Somalia.

Gacanka cadmeed dhinac ilaa ka dhinac, Hubka ayaa lagu soo waramaya in si sharci darro ah looga ganacsado kooxaha argagixisada iyo dambiilaayaasha abaabulan ee Soomaaliya iyo gobolka, taas oo kordhinaysa surtagalnimada xadgudubyada ka dhanka ah dadka rayidka ah, Maalgalinta howlo kale oo sharci darro ah, iyo in la wiiqo waxtarka cunaqabateynta  hubka ee Golaha Ammaanka ee Qaramada Midoobay. Taasi waa qayb ka mid ah sababta UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme ay u bixinayso waxqabadyo taxane ah si kor loogu qaado awoodda sharci fulinta baddaha Somalia si loo carqaladeeyo ka ganacsiga hubka iyo dambiyadda la xiriira baddaha.

Puntland, tusaale ahaan, UNODC waxay sii waddaa L-howlgalida Qaybta Booliska Badda ee dakadda Bossaso  (BPMPU) si ay u bixiso taageero ballaaran oo gudaha ah, oo ay ku jirto in la dhiso xirfadaha farsamada badda ee saraakisha si loo dayactiro matoorada awood u siinaya ilaalinta joogtada ah ee badda si ay uga hortagaan maraakibta looga shakisan yahay ka ganacsiga hubka. Taliyaha, BPMPU Col. Warsame Ahmed Shirwac, ayaa sharaxay in caawimaada UNODC’s ay awood u siisay cutubka inay ka hortagto howlo badan oo sharci daro ah iyagoo fulinaya howlgalada dambiyada ka dhanka ah badda, taas oo keentay in dhowr jeer oo guulo ah la qabto labadii bilood ee u danbeysay.

Maajo 2023, lix sarkaal iyo kormeerayaal BPMPU ah ayaa dhameeyay afar toddobaad koorsada injineernimada baxrida  doonta, iyagoo helaya aqoon gacanta laga qabanayo iyo mid theory ah oo ku saabsan dayactirid matoorka dibadda doonta ku xiran, kaydinta, iyo safrinta doonta . Muhiimad ahaan, saraakiishu waxay sidoo kale barteen heerka caadiga ah ee hubinta doonta marka ay hawlgalka ku jirto iyo farsamooyinka ka hortagga dabka ee kormeerka iyo jawaabaha amniga ee la fududeeyay. Lix ka mid ah ka qaybgalayaasha, dhammaan waxay soo sheegeen in koorsadu ka caawisay inay si wanaagsan u buuxiyaan himilada BPMPU ee kor u qaadista amniga dhul-badeedka.

Macallinka tababarka, Mr. Anil Kulatunga, ayaa sharraxay in “Dayac-tirka matoorka iyo ka-hortagga dabka ay yihiin awoodaha aasaasiga ah ee unit kasta oo ilaalinta sharciga badaha si ay u fuliyaan hawlgallo roondo ah oo looga jawaabayo dembiyada badda”. oo ay ku jiraan ka ganacsiga hubka iyo rasaasta,oo wali khatar ku ah biyaha Soomaaliya.” Haddii aan la helin boolis wax ku ool ah oo badaha ka ilaaliya ka ganacsiga hubka sharci darada ah,iyo qalab dowladu ku dabagasho Meesha uu ka yimi qalabka iyo saadka uu  mamnuucday golaha Ammaanku si ay u adkaato in la keeno Somalia” 

Marka la sii eego mustaqbalka, UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programm waxay doonaysaa inay sii wado taageerada ay siiso BPMPU iyo qaybaha kale ee sharci ilaalinta badaha Soomaaliya,oo ay ku jirto iyadoo ballaarinaysa baaxadda tababarkeeda ilaalinta goobaha dambiyada bada sii loo xafida xogta goobta dambigu ka dhacay, Iyadoo ay ugu mahadcelinayso maalgelinta ay bixiso Waaxda Arrimaha Dibadda ee Mareykanka ee Xafiiska Maandooriyaha Caalamiga ah iyo Arrimaha Dhaqangelinta sharciga.

Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah, fadlan la xiriir:

Mr. David O’Connell (David.OConnell@un.org)

Agaasimaha Barnaamijka Badweynta Hindiya

Barnaamijka Dambiyada Badaha Caalamiga ah

Xafiiska Qaramada Midoobay u qaabilsan daroogada iyo dambiyada

Riix halkan si aad u booqato websaydka barnaamijka dambiyada badaha caalamiga ah ee UNODC.