DAKAR, Senegal, April 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit, met yesterday, in Monrovia, the President of Liberia, Ms. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
SRSG Djinnit discussed with the Liberian President the implementation of the Transborder Security Strategy adopted by the Mano River Union leaders in October 2013. They also discussed issues related to stability in West Africa as well as to drug trafficking and organized crime.
Mr. Djinnit had discussions on the same issues with the National Security Advisor, the Acting Minister of Justice and the heads of the country’s security in! stitutions including the Director of the Liberian National Police (LNP), the Head of Immigration Service and the Head of National Security Agency.
In his capacity as Chairman of the Policy Committee of the West Africa Coast Initiative (WACI), he visited the Transnational Crime Unit Headquarters in Monrovia, along with the Deputy SRSG for Rule of Law Mr. Tamrat Samuel of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), and held a working session with the Director of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Chief of the TCU.
Mr. Djinnit commended the authorities for their successful establishment of the Transnational Crime Unit (TCU) which is now operational. This initiative is part of the United Nations support to enhancing the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan to Address the Growing problem of Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime, and Drug Abuse in West Africa.
“We are highly encouraged by the results achieved by the TCU in Liberia. T! he TCU model as an inter-agency task force establishing coordination among national law enforcement and intelligence bodies, does make a difference in fighting collaboratively organised crime”, said the SRSG Djinnit following his visit.
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