SADC to commemorate international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking

WINDHOEK, June 25  — The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will join the international community in commemorating the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking on Wednesday.

This year the day will be commemorated under the theme of “Health for justice. Justice for health”.
SADC Executive Secretary, Stergomena Lawrence Tax in a statement Tuesday ahead of the celebrations said the region recognizes that, like the rest of Africa, drug and substance abuse and trafficking is a cause for great concern.

“It is sad to note that the SADC region is considered to be a favorable conduit for trafficking by drug dealers,” she said.
Despite the drawbacks, Tax said that there has been steady progress initiated by SADC to curb drug vending and illicit trafficking in the region.

“We applaud the chiefs of police and the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organization for the tireless efforts in the fight against drug trafficking and for cooperating with other regions and international organizations to prevent and combat transnational and cross-border crimes,” she added.
According to her, as a result of these joint operations and efforts, large quantities of drugs have been seized in the region, followed by arrests of drug traffickers.

Tax called upon the SADC member states working jointly with the international community to redouble efforts to fight drug trafficking as well as raise awareness about the major problems associated with the activity.
The day was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987 as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking. – XINHUA