The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken the lead in the regional fight against pharmaceutical crimes as Kenya hosts a high-level Organised Crime and Case Coordination Workshop on Combating Pharmaceutical Crimes for Eastern and Southern Africa at Two Rivers Mall, Nairobi.
The two-day workshop, organised under INTERPOL’s Illicit Goods and Global Health Programme, was officially opened by the Director of the National Central Bureau (NCB) at the DCI, Mr. Ibrahim Jillo, on behalf of DCI Director Mohammed Amin.
In his address, Mr. Jillo highlighted the growing threat posed by pharmaceutical crimes, noting that the illicit trade endangers public health, undermines legitimate supply chains and fuels organised criminal networks across borders.
He underscored the importance of enhanced regional cooperation, intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement, stressing that no single country can effectively tackle pharmaceutical crimes in isolation.
“Our National Central Bureau has consistently prioritised the fight against pharmaceutical crimes, working closely with INTERPOL and other partners to dismantle cross-border trafficking networks. Engagements such as this build on past successes, including global operations that have resulted in major seizures and arrests,”
Mr. Jillo said.
The workshop has brought together selected law enforcement officers from various INTERPOL member countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. It aims to strengthen case coordination, improve operational preparedness and enhance joint responses to the illicit manufacture, distribution and trafficking of falsified and substandard medical products.
Discussions opened with a detailed presentation on Operation Pangea XVII, highlighting global achievements and regional contributions in the fight against pharmaceutical crimes.
Participants will also receive a pre-operational briefing for Operation Pangea XVIII, with a specific focus on the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
The sessions are being enriched by insights from key partners, including AFRIPOL, the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), REACT, the World Customs Organization (WCO), private sector representatives, Roche, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), reflecting the multi-agency and multi-sectoral approach required to effectively combat pharmaceutical crime.
By the end of the workshop, participants are expected to deepen collaboration frameworks, refine case coordination mechanisms and strengthen joint operational readiness, sending a clear message of the region’s collective resolve to combat pharmaceutical crimes and safeguard the health and safety of communities.
