Fatick, Jan 26 (APS) – The Fatick customs subdivision mobilized to counter any illicit traffic of covid-19 vaccines, said the head of the Fatick customs’ subdivision, Lieutenant -colonel, Ndèye Fatou Ndiaye.
« Our agents are mobilized to counter any smuggling of doses of covid-19 vaccines », she told to APS on the occasion of the 2021 international Customs Day.
She stressed that in this context of health crisis, malicious people could smuggle anti-covid-19 vaccines. Therefore, beyond the mission of fighting against drug trafficking, ours agents are mobilized to counter any illicit trafficking of vaccines against covid-19 too, she insisted.
The head of the Fatick Customs’ Subdivision reported that most of smuggled drugs get into Fatick through several areas but mostly transit in the Republic of The Gambia.
« In particular through the islands of Saloum where the smuggled imported drugs got in by canoes most of the time », she added.
She further reported that an « upward » trend is noticed in the trafficking of fake drugs between late 2020 and early 2021 in Fatick, within global context of health crisis.
« In early 2021, a significant amount of smuggled drugs worth 13 million CFA francs were seized, » she said.
According to her, « this reveals that in 2021 a risk of major seizures of smuggled drugs or fake drugs is predicable. »
« We are anticipating, and an alert and surveillance system is set up to better counter any illicit trafficking of prohibited products in the area, » she insisted.
The international customs day 2021 edition is dedicated to the « Resilience, recovery, renewal: Customs at the service of a sustainable logistics chain ».
AB / ASB / AKS
