News Brief – Week of 11 November 2024

14.11.24 – Europol supports EPPO-led investigation into EUR 520 million VAT fraud involving mafia networks. Europol has supported the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in a major cross-border operation against VAT fraud, dubbed ‘Moby Dick’. The operation has resulted in detention orders being executed against 43 suspects linked to a criminal enterprise of an estimated…

GRES PORTS first operational meeting kicks off with SEACOP

From 11 to 14 November 2024, the Special Response Group – GRES PUERTOS initiative held its first operational meeting at the Port of Callao, bringing together operational and strategic focal points from Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Peru. With the objective of enhancing information exchange and conducting joint operations, this initiative has taken a significant…

SEACOP in the Caribbean: Collaboration with the Regional Security System at Play

Earlier this month, SEACOP provided training assistance to the RSS’ Maritime Operations Planning Course (MOPC), held in Bridgetown, Barbados. Targeted at Junior Commissioned Officers and Senior Ratings from the RSS Member States’ Coast Guards and Marine Police Units, this course aims to equip them with the tools to plan and execute maritime operations within RSS…

Major Drug Shipment Seizure Alert – SEACOP Operation from Uruguay

The SEACOP Special Response Group in the South Atlantic tops the headlines again by successfully preventing the arrival of a major drug shipment to Europe, with simultaneous operations in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Earlier this month, SEACOP and the COLIBRI project set up an Operational Coordination Centre in Montevideo, where they supervised an unprecedented…

Advanced Vessel Search Training in Uruguay delivered by SEACOP

During the week of October 28 to November 1, an intensive advanced training on drug search techniques was delivered to 14 participants from the Uruguayan Naval Prefecture, Customs, and National Police. Led by two experts from the Operational Group of Technical Inspections (GOIT) of Spain’s National Police, the training included hands-on experience conducting comprehensive, methodical…

News Brief – Week of 21 October 2024

25.10.24 – Two Key Figures of Notorious Serbian Clan Arrested in Barcelona. The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), in collaboration with Europol and six other European partners, have arrested two senior members of the notorious Serbian “Vračar Clan”, dismantling a key faction of the group. The clan leader was apprehended in Barcelona on 18 October,…

Launch of SEACOP GRES-PORT Strategy

Strengthening International Cooperation in Maritime Security Improving the exchange of information and promoting joint operations across the Pacific-Caribbean region, with a clear international outlook for future cooperation with European countries, was at the center of our launch event last week in Cartagena, Colombia. From 17-19 October 2024, the SEACOP-GRES PUERTOS Special Response Group strategy was…

SIREN Mission: SEACOP Engaged to Strengthen Maritime Safety in West Africa

From 29 September to 13 October 2024, SEACOP took part in the SIREN mission, an initiative of the Yaoundé Architecture, in collaboration with the CECLANT (Atlantic Maritime Zone Command), taking place on board the PHA [FRA] Dixmude. The programme, a veritable on-board academy, brought together 32 trainees from 17 countries, representing the key players in…

Strengthening Maritime Security in Sierra Leone

“The threats we face—piracy, drug trafficking, terrorism, and smuggling—require innovative and proactive solutions. This mentoring is part of Sierra Leone’s broader strategy to remain one step ahead of these emerging challenges,” stated Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, Executive Director of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of Sierra Leone. Speaking on the occasion of the mentoring…