The Secretary-General of IORA Secretariat, Dr Salman Al-Farisi and the new Director of Maritime Safety and Security, Mr Shivraj Dhuppe, seconded from India, participated at the Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking and Substance Abuse in the Western Indian Ocean, which was graced by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the InterContinental Resort Mauritius in Balaclava on 25th April 2024.

The Indian Ocean, with its vast expanse and strategic significance, has increasingly become a transit route for illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse. These activities not only undermine the socio-economic fabric of IORA member states but also fuel other forms of transnational crime, including terrorism and organized crime syndicates. 

In this respect, Dr Salman Al-Farisi reiterated IORA’s commitment to address such pressing challenges facing the Indian Ocean Region in collaboration with other regional/international organizations and other stakeholders.