News briefing week of 20 December

20/12 Interpol: illicit fishing trade fuels transnational organized crime. A global investigation showed that the illicit fishing trade fuels transnational organized crime activities such as the trafficking of humans, drugs, and explosives, Interpol reported. 21/12 Mexican cartels are turning to meth and fentanyl production. Mexican drug cartels are turning to bigger, more productive labs to…

CRIMJUST and AIRCOP side event on integrity in border management during CoSP

GIFP components CRIMJUST and AIRCOP organised a side event on integrity in border management during the ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (CoSP). The side event took place on 16 December 2021 and was held in a hybrid format with in-person and online participation. The…

International Anti-Corruption Day 2021- GIFP overview of anti-corruption efforts

“Corruption is the ultimate betrayal of public trust”, stated António Guterres, ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, as he was addressing the world on corruption in the context of the global health crisis of COVID-19. Since 2003, the UN has instituted the 9th of December as the International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of this…

CRIMJUST and the UNODC launch the second issue of the series Cocaine Insights

While the first issue of the “Cocaine Insights” series focused on the trade of cocaine, the trends, and the evolving market, the second issue concentrates on the variety of cocaine products available. As cocaine presents an important health and security risk for Europe and globally, it is important to understand the ways coca is cultivated,…

The 10th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime

The UNTOC Conference is a biannual event that supports discussions relating to the ratification, progress and implementation of the convention and an opportunity to take stock of the global trafficking situation, current trends and newly identified challenges. Organised over a week, the UNTOC Conference is a forum for diplomats, representatives of governmental agencies, non-governmental organisations…

An autumn highlight in the EU’s capital: the first EU Crime Week brought law enforcement, DEVCO project partners, EU agencies and services together to address organised crime

For 5 days, from 25 to 29 November, participants exchanged on coordination and synergies, but also challenges in the fight against illicit trafficking, and in particular drug trafficking, both inside and outside Europe. The launch of the EU Drug Market’s Report on 26 November underpinned discussions on the current global drug production and European consumption,…

CRIMJUST at the CCPCJ 28th session to promote strengthening of capacities in the fight against drug trafficking and dismantling of cocaine labs

CRIMJUST, a Cocaine Route Programme component, took part in the 28th Session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna, Austria, on 21 May. It was a unique opportunity for CRIMJUST to present, together with the Integrated Illicit Crop Monitoring System Project of the UNODC Office in Colombia, the…

CRIMJUST to support a cycle of training on asset forfeiture linked to drug trafficking in Bolivia

From 18 to 25 March, the Bolivian Vice Ministry of Social Defence and Controlled Substances and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched a cycle of training aimed at reinforcing capacities on asset forfeiture linked to drug trafficking. Asset forfeiture, or asset seizure, is a form of confiscation undertaken by a state…

Newsbriefing – Week of 18 March

During the ministerial segment of the 62nd session of the CND, the Gambian Minister of the Interior announced that his government firmly opposed the decriminalisation of cannabis use highlighting that the drug was responsible for most of the drug-connected crimes in the Gambia. On Monday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro started off his official visit to…

Newsbriefing – Week of 11 March

On Monday, the U.S Customs and Border Protection announced the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cocaine, the biggest shipment of cocaine seized in New York and New Jersey in 25 years, in the Port of New York-Newark. The cocaine, which has an estimated street value of $77 million, was hidden in a shipping container originating…