The United Nations Agency on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) aims to support the government of Mozambique in the fight against organized crime, drugs, and terrorism. The agency will provide technical and legislative assistance to the country. A Strategic Plan of Action in response to transnational organized crime, drugs, and terrorism was discussed among experts meeting from 10-12 September in Maputo.
The plan aims to strengthen the criminal justice system in Mozambique and will take into account the priorities set by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (ODS).
According to the Mozambican Drug Enforcement Office member Nadir Izdine, the country needs to face some trafficking-related problems. “We have a number of issues that we need the support of the international community to address this calamity,” she says.
She also expects a review of the country’s legislation. “Our legislation is old, about 20 years old,” she explains. “We are aware of some omissions and are currently concerned with revising the legislation. sensitivities about the need to review existing legislation “.
Unodc is also the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
“Our plan is to develop a joint work program to support the government of Mozambique in the framework of a regional strategy with the Sadc countries, challenges in the areas of illicit drug trafficking, people, corruption, criminal justice as well as health. linked to drug abuse and consumption and HIV / AIDS transmitted to injecting drugs ”, explains the representative César Guedes.
Crimes against nature
Nature-related crimes are also among the major challenges facing the country. Criminal groups earn about $ 23 billion a year from wildlife and forest crime, which is a large part of the $ 90 billion a year generated collectively by transnational organized crime in the region.
Unodc data indicate that in recent decades Mozambique has lost 80% of its elephant population. These crimes are a source of funding in eastern and southern Africa.