Algeria has underscored the importance of regional and international cooperation in combating drug trafficking, emphasizing the necessity of full compliance with the three international conventions to monitor this scourge through the implementation of international policies in this field.
This statement was made during the speech delivered by Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Arabi Latrous, at the annual meeting of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in its sixty-seventh session, held in the capital, Vienna.
Latrous called for concerted efforts to confront this emerging threat, while simultaneously working collectively and effectively to mitigate the ongoing risks posed by traditional drugs, foremost among them cannabis.
The Arab Ambassador Latrous also reviewed Algeria’s collaborative and multi-sectoral approach to combating drugs, which has given wide space for the contribution of civil society, pointing out “the adoption of legislative and regulatory measures during the year 2023, particularly aimed at supporting and enhancing preventive and treatment measures.”
He revealed Algeria’s commitment to establishing four modern regional addiction treatment centres across the entire Algerian territory.
The European Union (EU) member states are set to intensify their crackdown on organized crime and drug trafficking through ports, aiming to bolster security and curb illegal activities.
European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, announced the move following a meeting with EU interior ministers in Brussels.
Johansson highlighted that approximately 70% of cocaine enters through these maritime routes, expressing a strong conviction in the EU’s capability to combat this challenge.
The EU’s strategy includes closer collaboration with drug-producing countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia, aiming to address the issue at its source.
