Monthly Intelligence Report November 2024

This month’s issue of the Monthly Intelligence Report covers incidents that took place between October 1 - 31, 2024, in three focus regions:

• West Africa

• Western Indian Ocean (including the Persian Gulf)

• South East Asia

Focus topic: Cargo contamination for cocaine smuggling from Latin America

This month, we are taking a look at the implications of cocaine smuggling from Latin America. Cargo contamination has developed into the most prevalent smuggling technique in the region. It entails tampering legitimate cargo with large quantities of drugs relatively early in the supply chain with a significant impact particularly on the containerised trade. Other smuggling methods, however, are also employed by criminal groups.

In addition, the report provides a brief update on the maritime implications of the war in Ukraine.

This month's risk and threat assessment

In the report's assessment, the main incidents are put into a broader context to highlight current threat levels and potential changes for maritime operations. Moreover, the report includes forecasts that cover the main concerns in the coming weeks.