The gesture was part of UN’s efforts to strengthen international cooperation and collaboration between the two organisations.
At the handing over ceremony, Coumba Mathurin Diop, UNODC Country Coordinator lauded the agency’s relentless efforts to stop illicit drugs and related crimes.
She acknowledged the agency’s support and readiness to work with the UNODC, further revealing that the donated items are part of material and equipment support for DLEAG proposed laboratory.
Also speaking, Mr. Kameldy Neldjingaye UNODC Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa, expressed appreciation of the level of cordial relationship and cooperation between DLEAG and the UNODC.
He assured the agency of UNODC support indicating that the DLEAG role complements the UNODC core mandate which is to counter the world drug problem.
Mr. Bakary Gassama, Director General (DG) of DLEAG hailed the UNODC for the gesture, further acknowledging the numerous support and cooperation in the crusade on drugs.
He reminded that UNODC played a pivotal role in facilitating the signing of the bilateral cooperation and agreements between DLEAG of The Gambia and OCRTIS of Senegal as well as the signing of the trilateral agreement between the anti-Narcotics institutions of The Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea Bissau.
DLEAG, he added, has also benefitted from several capacity-building training programmes in different spheres of narcotic interventions.
The trainings, he revealed, continues to pay dividend with the numerous landmark cases and significant seizures registered by the agency over the years.
Further on the relevance of the laboratory in forensic investigation, DG Gassama reminded that the laboratory is highly needed to boost the agency’s forensic capability in analyzing seized drugs.
“Without the analytical report and weighment certificate, no narcotic investigation or case file is complete because this is a legal requirement and this laboratory will help bridge that gap.”he stated.
DG Gassama thus thanked the UNODC for the support and assured of his continued support and cooperation.
The first batch of donated equipment for the laboratory includes a laptop, one color printer, twenty-four cartridges, five air conditioners, one washing machine, and two refrigerators.
