The European Union (EU) member states are set to intensify their crackdown on organized crime and drug trafficking through ports, aiming to bolster security and curb illegal activities.
European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, announced the move following a meeting with EU interior ministers in Brussels.
Johansson highlighted that approximately 70% of cocaine enters through these maritime routes, expressing a strong conviction in the EU’s capability to combat this challenge.
The EU’s strategy includes closer collaboration with drug-producing countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia, aiming to address the issue at its source.
This initiative follows the establishment of a European alliance against drug smuggling in January, marking a significant step in the EU’s efforts to tighten security at its borders.
Customs authorities are expected to implement more targeted controls in ports, enhancing the detection and interception of illegal drug shipments.
Furthermore, criminal gangs involved in such activities will face increased prosecution with the support of Europol, the European law enforcement agency, and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Criminal networks frequently exploit major European ports like Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven for smuggling illicit goods into the EU in containers, posing a significant challenge to law enforcement agencies.
Recent records set in Belgium and the Netherlands, with customs officials seizing approximately 180 tons of cocaine in 2023, underscore the urgent need for more robust measures against drug trafficking in the region.
In January, the European Commission initiated a new collaborative effort, the European Ports Alliance, to intensify efforts against drug trafficking via Europe’s ports.
This initiative arises amidst a significant surge in drug smuggling across Europe and concerns about the increasing influence of drug cartels on port operations.
Officials recognize that ports, due to their heavy traffic, are particularly susceptible to drug smuggling and exploitation by dangerous criminal networks.
