The European Commission, along with
various EU Member States and agencies, have launched the European Ports
Alliance Public Private Partnership to combat drug trafficking and criminal
infiltration in ports.
This partnership aligns with the EU
Roadmap to fight Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime and President von der Leyen’s pledge
to combat drug smuggling and criminal infiltration in European ports by 2024.
Recent years have seen a significant increase in
cocaine seizures in the EU, with criminal networks employing violence,
corruption, and intimidation to secure profits. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, for instance, confiscated a
record 121 metric tonnes of cocaine in 2023, marking a 10% increase from the
previous year.
Given that ports account for 75% of EU external
trade volumes and 31% of EU internal trade volumes, they are especially vulnerable
to exploitation by high-risk criminal networks. These criminals often use ports
as transit points for containers bearing illicit goods, including drugs – a
criminal venture that poses significant security threats to the EU.
The partnership will strengthen risk management,
implement effective controls, and bolster law enforcement operations in ports.
It also aims to raise awareness and support port authorities and private
shipping companies in their fight against drug trafficking.
A joint declaration will follow the
launch, reiterating the commitment of law enforcement, customs, and public and private
operators working in ports to collectively combat the threats posed by
organised crime.
The fight against organized crime and
drug trafficking is a priority for the European Commission, as outlined in the
EU Security Union Strategy, the EU Strategy to Tackle Organised crime, and the
EU Strategy on Drugs. The European Ports Alliance forms a flagship
initiative, bringing together all relevant public and private actors in the
fight against drug smuggling and criminal infiltration of logistic hubs