COOPERATION IN COMBATING DRUG TRAFFICKING: A U.S. TEAM VISITS THE ABIDJAN PORT AUTHORITY

Activités portuaires Thursday 20 February 2025

As part of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Côte d’Ivoire, a team of U.S. anti-drug experts conducted a mission in Côte d’Ivoire from January 21 to 24, 2025, at the initiative of the Permanent Secretariat of the Interministerial Committee for State Action at Sea and the U.S. Maritime Advisor for Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Shaun HODGINS.

This delegation visited Abidjan Port Authority (PAA) on January 23, 2025. They were received by The Managing Director Mr. Hien Yacouba SIÉ, accompanied by his close collaborators and security officials working within the port, including Commissioner DEMBELE Patricia épouse BAMBA, head of the anti-drug police unit at the Port of Abidjan.

According to Mr. Chris SEGOVIA, Program Manager at AFRICOM, this working session was not only part of strengthening maritime security cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and the United States but also aimed at assessing the Port of Abidjan’s needs in capacity building and collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking and other illicit activities.

"The Port of Abidjan, as a major transit point for goods and people, is a key link in this collaboration," Mr. SEGOVIA stated.

During the discussions, Mr. Hien SIÉ emphasized the importance of joint efforts in combating this scourge, which poses a threat to the country's security and youth. He also advocated for enhancing the capacity of national actors responsible for this mission.

He reaffirmed the Abidjan Port Authority’s commitment to continuously support the competent Ivorian state structures operating in the port domain, which serve as the frontline actors in this fight. In this context, in 2024, the PAA fully renovated the offices of the Port of Abidjan’s Drug and Narcotics Police Unit (DPSD).

Finally, Mr. Hien SIÉ reassured the U.S. delegation of the PAA’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the Abidjan port platform as a safe and secure logistical and commercial zone, in compliance with ISPS code requirements, for which the Port of Abidjan was certified since July 2006.