Lima, 25 May 2022 – The EU-funded project SEACOP V and the National Commission for Drug-free Life and Development (DEVIDA) of Peru, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue cooperation in the fight against illicit maritime trade.
Represented by Ricardo Antonio Soberón Garrido, Executive President of DEVIDA, and SEACOP Project Director Dominique Bucas, and in the presence of Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union Robert Steinchlener and the head of the EU Project Support against Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime, Rafael Soriano, the event marked the continuation of a long-standing collaboration between the two parties in the fight against drug trafficking in the region.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding takes place in the framework of the implementation of Peru’s National Anti-Drug Policy 2030 and is also signed by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAAP) one of SEACOP’s implementing agencies.
“We would like to reaffirm Peru’s commitment to intensify the approach to this part of the problem of the pulse of the trade in maritime trade networks for illicit purposes. And we do so from the perspective of the principle of common and shared responsibility that we fully share with the European Union and other international institutions,” commented Ricardo Soberón.
The aquatic space of Peru is an important platform for criminal organisations, due to the 3,080 km of coastline guard harbours, coves and shelves where high-board vessels, fishing boats, speedboats and recreational boats move.
The “Triple Border of the Amazon” formed by Brazil, Colombia and Peru is an object of research in this phase V of the Project. In this context, the Maritime Intelligence Unit established in Perú should focus its priority on obtaining intelligence on criminal organisations that use “front” companies to carry out their illicit shipments, risk profiling of fishing vessels. It is estimated that 80% of the cocaine produced in Peru is destined for Europe and leaves by sea, due to the growing international demand for cocaine. One of the purposes of this memorandum is to align efforts, to share a common vision and to combat illicit drug trafficking in Peru’s ports in greater depth.
This cooperation will also entail the delivery of joint training courses on port control in coastal and river areas, Maritime Intelligence, participation in events in Latin America and Transregional for the exchange of experiences between the Container Control Units and the Maritime Intelligence Units, training of trainers and tutorials for trainers, materials, and minor security equipment for training in ports and maritime vessels.
