Drug seizure recorded by Maritime Control Unit supported by SEACOP

The Joint Maritime Control Unit of Tema Port, created through SEACOP in 2015 and supported through four training over the past three years, achieved a remarkable seizure on Monday 29 January 2024. According to the Narcotics Control Commission’s announcement, NACOC seized 4,734.34kg of various Tramadol tablets. “The seizure was part of the Commission’s mandate relating…

Sierra Leone receives SEACOP’s first maritime intelligence training

In Freetown this week (12-16 February 2024), SEACOP VI is delivering a weeklong training on Maritime Intelligence to 15 auditors from various government agencies tasked with combating drug and timber trafficking in the region. “It is important to see that official agreements like the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Sierra Leone authorities and Expertise France as well…

The Gambia braces against illicit maritime trafficking with SEACOP support

A year after the signature of a MoU aimed at building the country’s capacities to combat maritime trafficking, the Gambia is receiving its second training, this time focused on maritime intelligence (05-09/02/2024). “This training is targeted at the Maritime Intelligence Unit, which was created with the support of SEACOP last year. The objective of such…

News briefing – Week of 21 March

21/03 CRIMJUST organised its first capacity-building on “Cyber Elements of Drug Trafficking Investigations” under the framework of its new INL-funded project in West Africa. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) held a training on “Cyber Elements of Drug Trafficking Investigations”, in Cotonou, Benin for law enforcement officers from the Republican Police of Benin and…

News briefing – Week of 7 March

9/03 Arrests and seizures in a 28-country operation targeting trafficking in cultural property. A global operation targeting illicit trafficking in cultural goods has led to 52 arrests and the seizure of 9 408 cultural artefacts across the world. These priceless items include archaeological objects, furniture, coins, paintings, musical instruments and statuettes. 08/03 Southern Cone Ports…

News Briefing – Week of 12 October

12/10/2020 – During an operation at the port of Tema, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority seized  436 pistols, ammunition and pepper spray.  13/10/2020 – Dutch law enforcement authorities dismantled an illegal factory producing cigarettes. They seized 3.6 million cigarettes, 32,000kg of tobacco and arrested 13 suspects.  13/10/2020 – 250kg of cocaine was seized in the…

CRIMJUST and AIRCOP join forces for the delivery of an ethic and integrity course in West Africa

From the 19th to the 21st August 2020, the CRIMJUST and AIRCOP teams organised the delivery of a series of training course on ethics and integrity for law enforcement officers forming the Joint Airport Interdiction Task Force in West Africa, including Cabo Verde, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria where the two projects operate. The training focused…

News Briefing – Week of 23 March

  Several prisoners escaped from four Brazilian prisons after authorities announced the suspension of the one-day release programme. This decision was taken as a preventive measure to avoid the spread of the Coronavirus, COVID-19.   Honduras is becoming a cocaine producing country in addition to being a transit country.  Reporting indicates that, between 2009 and 2020,  12…

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,…

Forthcoming SEACOP training activities in West Africa and latest results

From October to November 2019, the SEACOP project will organise three training sessions in Dakar for customs officers, police officers and gendarmes assigned to the JMCUs (Joint Maritime Control Units) based in Cotonou (Benin), Lomé (Togo) and Dakar (Senegal). The trainings will strengthen the JMCUs capacity to fight transnational organised crime and the illicit trafficking…