Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission Undertakes Benchmark Visit to NACOC

A delegation from Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) is currently undertaking a benchmark visit to Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to exchange knowledge, share operational experiences and strengthen institutional cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and related financial crimes.

The visit provides an opportunity for the two institutions to share experiences and explore effective approaches to combating illicit drug trafficking, disrupting organised criminal networks and addressing the financial proceeds of drug-related activities.

As part of the engagement, NACOC delivered presentations on its regulatory and operational approaches to controlling precursor chemicals and psychotropic substances, as well as its drug demand reduction strategies.

The delegation also received an overview of the Commission's canine facility and its role in enhancing drug detection and interdiction operations.

The presentations highlighted NACOC's efforts to strengthen controls over substances that could be diverted for illicit drug production, while adopting preventive and rehabilitative approaches to address substance use disorders.

The Zambian delegation also visited the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to gain insights into their respective mandates and operational frameworks.

At the FIC, discussions focused on Ghana's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework, financial intelligence gathering and the identification of suspicious financial transactions associated with organised criminal activities.

The engagement with EOCO provided further insight into financial investigations, asset tracing and recovery, and the investigation and prosecution of economic and organised crimes, including activities linked to drug trafficking.

The visits offered the delegation a broader understanding of Ghana's inter-agency approach to combating transnational organised crime, particularly the relationship between drug trafficking, money laundering and the movement of illicit proceeds.

The benchmark engagement underscores the importance of international cooperation, institutional partnerships and the exchange of expertise in addressing the increasingly complex nature of transnational drug-related crimes.

It also presents an opportunity for Ghana and Zambia to strengthen collaboration, share best practices and build institutional capacity towards more effective drug control and enforcement interventions.