07/09/2020 – The French Minister for Home Affairs declared that the fight against drug trafficking is his first priority. Indeed, he considers drug trafficking as the source and driver for many kinds of other types of trafficking.
08/09/2020 – Spain and Morocco are committed to strengthening their ties in the fight against organised crime. The cooperation agreement, that is yet to be concluded, foresees increased international operational cooperation between national law enforcement authorities.
09/09/2020 – According to a study from the Global Financial Integrity Organisation, the profit from drug trafficking in the American continent is estimated to represent between $80 M and $90 M. The mechanisms put in place to eradicate drug production on the continent have not proven effective, producing only temporay interruptions. Profiteering from drug trafficking is made possible due to the effects of corruption that facilitates the illicit financial flows that support money laundering activities.
09/09/2020 – The delivery of illicit drugs by postal courier is booming. This modus operandi has increased drastically in France during the lockdown period as a result of other mail routing being heavily controlled. This modus operandi for drug trafficking has been boosted by the development and utilisation of e-commerce, especially during the COVID pandemic, where high volumes of parcels to be delivered are generated. Knowing this, the traffickers feel that they are more likely to successfully send their illicit commodities.
09/09/2020 – Three Mexican nationals, located on board a boat in the Caribbean were arrested by American law enforcement authorities. The boat was found to be carrying almost three tonnes of cocaine that was believed to be destined for the US.
11/09/2020 – The South African police in Kwazulu Natal seized 342kg of heroin that had arrived from Mozambique via Eswatini. The drugs were concealed in a metallic compartment of a truck. Three suspects were arrested.
13/09/2020 – A Croatian-flagged boat was intercepted by Spanish law enforcement authorities in the Canary Islands. Almost one tonne of cocaine was discovered and seized on board. Three suspects of Croatian nationality were arrested and are believed to be connected to the Balkan Cartel.
