In February, the Belgian government announced new measures to combat criminal networks, including the appointment of a special drugs commissioner and various new, container-scanning equipment.
"Cocaine trafficking has been on the rise since 2017. Belgian police have invested lots of energy in the fight against terrorism after the 2016 terrorist attacks in Brussels,” the minister said. However, drug trafficking must now be at the top of every government’s agenda in Europe, he told the Financial Times.
The illegal smuggling activity in ports happens behind the back of the authorities, above all thanks to corruption among employees. These are the main locations for drug trafficking, according to the European Council’s 2021-2025 Drugs Strategy Manifesto. In recent years, many “strong men and bosses” overseeing the illicit trade have moved to places like the UAE and Turkey to avoid prosecution. This has made it difficult for authorities in Belgium and other EU countries to obtain their extradition.
Corruption prevalent in ports is facilitating mass drug trafficking in both Latin America and Europe. Tackling the problem requires robust and focused strategies, from improving staff selection processes to increased supervision of officers deployed to port areas,” Laurent Laniel , a senior academic analyst in the Markets, Crime and Security sector, told the Spanish newspaper El Debate. For example, port employees handling containers may receive bribes, or be threatened with violence by drug gangs.
Cover photo: Illustration (Photo: Pixabay)
Szóljon hozzá!
Jelenleg csak a hozzászólások egy kis részét látja. Hozzászóláshoz és a további kommentek megtekintéséhez lépjen be, vagy regisztráljon!