India, Nigeria sign accord to fight drug trafficking

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 28. India and Nigeria today signed an agreement on mutual cooperation in drug demand reduction and prevention of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The agreement provides for exchange of information on operation and technical matters and also covers areas such as prevention of money laundering, forfeiture of assets, mutual legal assistance and reducing demand for drugs through prevention, treatment and public awareness.

The agreement assumes importance because significant quantities of heroin have been recovered in India from Nigerian and other west African nationals recently.

This agreement would facilitate joint investigations of these and other drug- trafficking cases. The agreement will come into effect after ratification by the two countries.

Apart from operational matters, other areas of cooperation envisaged in the agreement include training, exchange of technical information and coordination in the fields of development in statutory regimes and legal procedures.

The agreement was signed here today by the Adviser to the Nigerian President, Mr. I.Y. Lame, and the Director-General of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Mr. H.P. Kumar.

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Section  : National
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