12/02/2018
Peru and Ecuador are the latest countries to joint SEACOP IV, the project to combat maritime drug trafficking and criminal networks
After the courses run in Latin America during 2017, the SEACOP IV project against maritime drug trafficking has organised in Panama the region’s first Regional Workshop for Marine Intelligence Units (MIU).
The objective was to bring together all the Latin American units to improve relations and promote regional cooperation with other institutions that tackle the problem of maritime cocaine trafficking in the region. And, also, to strengthen international port cooperation, a project aim financed by the European Union and managed by FIIAPP.
Panama’s Commissioner, Rolando López, welcomed the project as the participating countries “are examples of the fight against drug trafficking, understanding the social and security scourge resulting from the cultivation, manufacture and transport of drugs in the region”.
The meeting was held between units from Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Panama and the Dominican Republic. In addition to Peru and Ecuador, who were invited to participate in the project as part of this meeting. Jacinto Gómez, representing the Panamanian National Security Council, closed the meeting and highlighted its usefulness for “understanding the common threats from drug trafficking and seeking solutions”.
The participants also included Expertise France, the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), the Maritime Operations and Analysis Centre and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Latin America and the Caribbean (AIRCOP).
The strategic location of Colombia, Panama and the Dominican Republic has meant that they are the latest Latin American countries to join the fourth phase of SEACOP. Its objective is to support the fight against illicit maritime drug trafficking and the related criminal networks. To this end, training is provided to different security agents from 7 countries in Africa, 13 in the Caribbean and 5 in Latin America, which are now joined by Peru and Ecuador.
During the meeting, Ana Hernández, of FIIAPP, highlighted the project’s objectives that, along with others managed by the Foundation, “contribute to the integral and human development of the different regions”.
SEACOP was launched in 2009 as part of the European Programme to Combat Trafficking on the Cocaine Route, through the European Instrument for Stability and Peace (IcSP).
