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 churn out increasing quantities of synthetic drugs like meth and fentanyl, according to seizure figures issued by the country’s Defense Department.
21/12 Cocaine worth £90 million found in banana shipment sent to the UK from Costa Rica. The 1.2 tonnes of cocaine were seized at a Kent port.
21/12 American efforts to curb Congolese wildlife trafficking. On December 13th, the American Department of State imposed visa restrictions on eight potential wildlife traffickers from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Wildlife and timber trafficking has been an ongoing issue throughout West and Central Africa, with a major hub for international trade out of the DRC.
22/12 Republic of Korea and Europol sign arrangement to combat cross-border serious organised crime. The Working Arrangement introduces a secure system for the exchange of information between the parties, linking the Republic of Korea with law enforcement authorities of the Member States of the European Union, as well as with third countries and organisations associated with Europol.
25/12 Morocco’s Navy seizes two tonnes of narcotics off Nador coast. Following a sea chase of a fast inflatable boat, the smugglers managed to flee the patrol of the coast guard at high speed after throwing their cargo into water. The Royal Navy seized 64 bales of drugs, with a total weight of about two tonnes.
