The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) officially closed the Boarding Officers Course 2 under the Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) programme at the School of Maritime Operations (SMOPS).
The Boarding Officers Course formed part of a broader five-course training initiative, which included Civilian and Military Training of Trainers, Basic and Advanced VBSS and Boat Operations.
These courses were designed to enhance the interdiction and arrest capabilities of Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies (MLEAs), thereby strengthening both individual skills and collective regional preparedness in addressing maritime crime.
The Second-in-Command of SMOPS, Lieutenant Commander Joseph Jeffery Donkor, congratulated the participants for their resilience and dedication throughout the training.
He encouraged them to continue practising what they had learned and to share their knowledge with colleagues who did not have the opportunity to attend the course.
The Lead Instructor, Mr. Tim Barnes, commended the participants for building a foundation of trust and teamwork during the course. He noted that these attributes are essential for operational success and contribute to a unified front in combating transnational maritime crime.
The successful completion of the course marks another milestone in the continued partnership between the UNODC and NAVTRAC in promoting maritime security and regional cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea.
