Last week, SEACOP organised a momentous event in Asunción, Paraguay, bringing together representatives from #Argentina 🇦🇷 #Colombia 🇨🇴 #Ecuador 🇪🇨, Paraguay #Peru 🇵🇪 and Dominican Republic, as well as various partner projects and organisations operating in the region.
Opened by Head of the EU Delegation in Paraguay Javier García de Viedma, Vice Minister of SENAD Esteban Caselli, and SEACOP Project Director Dominique Bucas, the opening ceremony witnessed the participation of local authorities and the President of the Association of Maritime and Fluvial Shipowners of Paraguay.
“We want to offer this regional platform to countries from Latin America and the Caribbean to share experiences and lessons learned on emerging threats, routes, and challenges related to trafficking at sea, including that of environmental crime,” noted Dominique Bucas in his opening speech, highlighting the crucial role of a concerted regional strategy that takes into account all partner countries’ strengths and weaknesses.”
💬 Engaging discussions and debates took place between the participants, which highlighted “great energy in the exchanges” and highlighted the teamwork and cooperation supported by SEACOP as “essential” .
“We must continue with this open window to communication,” noted a law enforcement representative.
For his part SEACOP Regional Coordinator for Latin America Alfredo Diaz Sanchez noted: “At SEACOP, we live by the mantra of TRIPLE CCC RECIPE: COOPERATION-COLLABORATION-COORDINATION. Together, we are working to forge a stronger, united front against illicit maritime trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Our special thanks to:
👏🏽 Global Illicit Flows Programme, MASIF, Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) – MAOC (N), COLIBRI, Bilateral Project of Peru, Passenger and Cargo Border Team (PCBT) of UNODC. Your collaboration to bolster the capacities of partner countries cannot be overstated.
👏🏽 Our host country and SENAD for their exceptional welcome
👏🏽 SEACOP implementing agencies FIIAPP and Expertise France
