Angolan Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Francisco Queiroz, on Monday advocated for a more efficient international cooperation to combat drug trafficking in the country.
The official made the statement while speaking to the press in the capital, Luanda during the opening of a workshop on the “Implementation of the United Nations Convention on Drugs and Crime”.
Without proving figures, Queiroz admitted that the levels of drug trafficking in the southern African country are considered high compared to previous years.
“If we do not get prepared with international cooperation, we will not be able to,” said the minister referring to the fight against drug trafficking.
However, the official pointed out that drug trafficking in Angola is still lower than in other states of the southern African region.
According to the official, criminals take advantage of the vast unprotected maritime and land borders for heavy drugs trafficking such as cocaine and cannabis.
The same position was defended by the resident coordinator of the United Nations system in Angola, Paollo Balladelli for whom the approach to the subject is important, as it is related to the stability of the country.
Balladelli reinforced that the international cooperation on this process of combating drug trafficking could reduce illicit financial flows, illegal weapons as well as to enable the recovery of stolen assets.
Participants to the five -day Workshop will be debating issues related to the UN conventions against transnational organized crime, the protocol to prevent, suppress and punish human trafficking, and the protocol against illicit manufacturing and trafficking of firearms, its parts, components and ammunition. Enditem
