Belgium plans to step up fight against drug trafficking through EU ports

Belgium intends to prioritize combating drug trafficking through the European Union’s major ports and expand existing efforts to curb rampant smuggling and corruption at the region’s ports. Over the next six months, they will step up efforts to work closely with the governments of major countries in South and Latin America, which are the main sources of illegal drugs.

The Belgian government, which holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2024, has warned that its logistics hubs are being used by organized drug cartels to smuggle drugs into member states. I am aware of this. Interpol and other law enforcement agencies have highlighted cartels’ efforts to infiltrate port operations to facilitate the smuggling of illegal drugs. Smuggling is on the rise at major ports such as Antwerp and Rotterdam. For example, in August 2023, Rotterdam reported its largest seizure ever of more than 8,000 kilograms of cocaine packets. Record seizures were also reported in Spain and Ireland in 2023.

Tackling the drug was part of the active agenda of a council launched by Belgium this week. The initiative, which will be led by Belgium, will focus on the European Union Criminal Justice Cooperation Agency Eurojust working closely with justice partners in third countries, particularly in South and Latin America, where large-scale illegal drug exports take place. It’s about ensuring we work together with our judicial partners. It will be done. The agency, which coordinates European governments’ efforts to combat serious cross-border crime, has more than 70 points of contact around the world to disrupt the use of EU hubs and ports for drug trafficking. The plan is to build a network of contact points in Latin America.

Belgium plans to take advantage of the European Commission’s comprehensive roadmap published last October, which aims to step up efforts to combat drug trafficking and criminal networks at Europe’s ports. Part of the roadmap includes funding for state-of-the-art equipment to help customs authorities scan containers and check imported goods for hidden cargo of illegal drugs and drug precursors. It includes allocating more than 100 million euros ($219 million).

The European Commission is already negotiating international agreements with Argentina, Brazil and Colombia to increase cross-border judicial cooperation. These measures will further enable cooperation through Eurojust in tackling major organized drug crime.

“Tackling large drug-related organized crime groups using logistics hubs, and more specifically large ports, is a top priority,” said Hilde Vandevoorde, Eurojust’s representative in Belgium. . “This type of crime always has a large cross-border dimension, so Eurojust’s role is essential in supporting cooperation between EU Member States and third countries.”

Belgium has pledged to prioritize the fight against drug trafficking through its major ports, with the country increasingly concerned about a surge in vice and other drug-related crimes. Drug cartels have made Europe’s ports important entry points for illegal drugs, with major cocaine busts occurring in recent months at ports such as Antwerp, Rotterdam and Algeciras. In 2021, a record 303 tonnes of cocaine was seized in the block.