Nigeria, Italy to check money laundering, others

Posted by admin Headlines, NDLEA (Anti-Drug Agency) Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

THE Italian government is collaborating with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a move to check drug syndicates, money laundering and crime.

The NDLEA said the plan would help to check drug syndicates seeking to operate in the country and within the sub-region.

Dr. Pietro Grasso, Chief Prosecutor of the Italian Anti-Mafia Bureau, was visiting Nigeria along with the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Roberto Colamine, as well as the Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Nicola Bazzani.

The NDLEA Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, was represented at the meeting by the agency’s Director of Administration and Finance, Dr. Daniel S. Ismaila.

The high-level discussion session was co-ordinated by Grasso of the Italian Anti-Mafia Bureau. Important operational areas being considered in the collaboration included a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on legal cooperation, operational exchange programmes, exchange of intelligence and joint operations.

Meanwhile, Colamine has expressed confidence in the first round of discussions, adding that there were interesting possibilities of very strong mutually beneficial partnership by both countries in the fight against organised crime.

The Italian government also pledged total commitment to the agreement, as it looked forward to a more virile anti-narcotic campaign.

“On our part, we will continue to follow up the matter closely and to remain at the disposal of the two sides for any further assistance that might be needed,” Grasso stated.

Giade, who is optimistic about further leverage in drug control with the collaboration, described the meeting as another milestone in the history of Nigeria’s commitment towards global drugs and crime control.
According to him, “this is one of the strategies of breaking international barriers in the fight against drug cartels. It is another historic landmark that will help to trap major drug traffickers in the dragnet of the agency.”

He pledged the agency’s unflinching support for the success of the proposed agreement.
The Italian government has also held a series of beneficial discussions on similar subject matters with the Executive Secretary of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
There are indications that Grasso may visit the country again to personally monitor the next round of talks with the NDLEA.

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