The EMCDDA and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) have discussed and agreed on the next joint work programme covering the period 2020-2024. The cooperation between the EMCDDA and the CICAD has been ongoing since 2000 and is framed by a Memorandum of Understanding. One of the major components of their cooperation is the joint handbook on building national drug observatories that was published 2010.
In 2019, drug cases associated with EUROJUST involved the seizure of 788,133 kgs of synthetic drugs, 28,585 kgs of cocaine, 9,224 kgs of heroin and 41,283 kgs of cannabis. Furthermore, EUROJUST supported cases saw the arrest of 2,686 suspects and in other areas EUROJUST supported the development of 800 prosecution agreements between investigating parties.
EUROPOL supported a pan European operation led by Finland and France targeting the illicit online and offline trafficking of misused and counterfeit medicines. It led to the arrest of 48 suspects. Six organised crime groups involved in medicine trafficking were dismantled.
After a two-year long operation led by the Spanish Guardia Civil in collaboration with the US DEA and the Colombian national police, a large scale drug trafficking organisation has been dismantled. The Spanish branch of the network was distributing the cocaine delivered in bulk from South America. The suspects concealed the drugs in caravans travelling between the Canary Islands
1.18 tons of cocaine was seized in Greece in Astakos in a house raided by the Greek police. This seizure is the result of a six-month operation involving the Greek police in collaboration with the Albanians and Spanish police as well as the US DEA.
75 prisoners from the Perdo Juan Caballero prison, Paraguay, escaped through a tunnel. The inmates were mainly members of the gang ‘Primer Comando de la Capital’ (PCC). A senior government official ordered the dismissal and arrest of all prison officials employed at the prison.
