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…