ECO-SOLVE Scoping Mission to Brazil

From 6-10 May 2024, the ECO-SOLVE team undertook a scoping mission across Brazil, including visits to São Paulo, Brasília and Belém.  It focused on identifying and establishing connections with local organisations, government departments, and community groups to understand the intricate dynamics of illicit activities threatening the Amazon Basin rainforest. The initial meetings in São Paulo…

News Brief – Week of 6 May 2024

06.05.24 – Law enforcement dismantle cocaine lab in Spain with 100 kg monthly capacity. On 30 April, the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) arrested 20 suspects after dismantling a cocaine laboratory capable of producing 100 kilograms of the drug each month. A number of those arrested were considered by law enforcement as High Value Targets…

SEACOP participates in Tradewinds 2024 Exercise

SEACOP is currently participating in the 39th iteration of Exercise Tradewinds (TW24) which opened last week (4 May 2024) in Christ Church, Barbados. 📸 SEACOP Deputy Regional Coordinator Alexander Kellman delivers a brief and ‘Intro to Maritime Intelligence’ lesson. About Exercise Tradewinds: Since its inception in 1984, Tradewinds has been a cornerstone for regional security…

News Brief – Week of 29 April 2024

29.04.24 – Almost 1 400 firearms removed from circulation in 16 European countries. A total of 1 388 firearms were seized during an operation led by Romania and coordinated by Europol, spanning across 16 European countries. After months of intelligence gathering to identify key targets, an action took place in February, the details of which…

General Aviation Training Enhances Capabilities of Togo’s Joint Airport Interdiction Task Force

In a significant step towards strengthening the fight against illicit trafficking through general aviation, the JAITF of Togo participated in an intensive training session organised by the COLIBRI project from April 22-26 in Lomé. This training, attended by 40 law enforcement agents, including three key JAITF officials, took place over several days and was a…

SEACOP’s visit to JIATFS: Strengthening Regional Counter-Narcotics Operations

In April 2024, SEACOP was invited to visit the facility of the US SOUTHCOM’s Joint Inter Agency Task Force South (JIATFS) in Key West, Florida. Recognised globally as a pinnacle of interagency intelligence fusion and operational coordination, JIATFS is a key player in Caribbean regional security. During the visit, the SEACOP Project Coordinator and Regional…

News Brief – Week of 22 April 2024

22.04.24 – Several people arrested in large-scale operation into drug trafficking in Brussels. As part of the fight against the sale of drugs by criminal organisations in Belgium, a large-scale judicial operation was organised, the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office reported on Monday after the operation had ended. “This Monday, more than 20 searches were carried…

Empowering Africa’s Response: Combating Transnational Organised Crime Through Human Rights Advocacy

ENACT convened a seminar on 17 April 2024, in Banjul, The Gambia to launch the research report “Understanding the African Commission’s Role in Combating TOCs in Africa” authored by Dr. Feyi Ogunade of the Institute of Security Studies, a consortium member of the ENACT project. During the seminar, stakeholders urged the African Commission on Human…

News Brief – Week of 15 April 2024

17.04.24 – 20 arrests in clampdown against gang suspected of laundering EUR 10 million. 20 members of an intercontinental criminal network engaged in drug trafficking and money laundering have been arrested following a large-scale operation on 6 and 7 March in Spain and Portugal. The suspects laundered more than EUR 10 million using stolen identities…