The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will reestablish its presence in Seychelles as of April, while the island nation will increase cooperation with the U.N. body, said the office’s new Eastern Africa representative.
Amado Philip de Andrés made these statements on Friday after a courtesy call to Seychelles’ president, Danny Faure, at State House, Victoria.
“The first good news that we had from the president is that we are going to reestablish our presence here as of the beginning of April. My UNODC officer will be the entry point for us to physically increase our cooperation and presence in Seychelles,” said de Andrés, who is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
The courtesy call was also an opportunity for the new UNODC representative to discuss other areas to increase cooperation, namely maritime security strategy, drug demand reduction and prison reform.
Established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime.
On maritime security, de Andrés said UNODC is thinking of using the Regional Fusion and Law Enforcement Centre for Safety and Security at Sea (REFLECS3) based in Seychelles for interregional exercises with Latin American and European countries. The centre is located at Bois De Rose, on the outskirts of Victoria, the capital.
Read the full article published by Seychelles News Agency.