The Economist: Criminal networks are well ahead in the fight over Europe’s ports

Bags of cocaine, which were seized during a special police operation, are seen at a press conference of the National Police and the Anti-Narcotic Police Department and the U.S. Department of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kiev. Image: Alamy

Louis Borer, Senior Analyst at Risk Intelligence, shares insights on the pressing issue of corruption and drug trafficking in European ports in a recent interview with The Economist.

11 April 2024

The original release date of the article was on 8 April 2024, as published by The Economist.

The article highlights the growing problem of drug trafficking in Europe, particularly in ports. Despite the efforts and improvements made by local services to combat smuggling, the sheer volume of goods passing through ports makes detection difficult. Traffickers exploit security loopholes and take advantage of the many possible hiding places, both on ships and in ports, where they use their networks to corrupt key port workers. European authorities are improving processes and technology to mitigate this growing phenomenon, but corruption and gaps in information sharing persist. 

Despite these efforts, the rising demand for drugs in Europe will contribute to an increase in the rate of goods transiting through ports. In the article, Louis Borer of Risk Intelligence points out the importance of local coordinators in facilitating illicit activities and port corruption: “They know the area and they know the people.”

Read article in full here (paywall).

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