Communication on the EU roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime

Summary:

Communication adopted by the European Commission on 18 October 2023, setting out a new roadmap aimed at tackling drug trafficking and organised crime.

Further information:

The drugs trade orchestrated by organised crime is seen as one of the most serious security threats facing the European Union (EU). There is also growing concern over the production and proliferation of synthetic drugs across the EU, which are trafficked globally. In their efforts to make large profits, criminal networks use extreme violence, corruption and intimidation. They are also highly capable to make connections and conceal their plans.

The revenue obtained through illicit activities are used for other criminal activities and laundered by professional money laundering syndicates. The revenue is then invested to infiltrate the legal economy, which has far-reaching and destabilising consequences. As a highly visible consequence of this threat, criminals’ global reach and iron grip on drug trafficking supply chains have led to a wave of violence in the streets.

Given the size of the threat and its worldwide reach, the European Commission adopted a roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime. It sets out 17 actions in four priority areas: to strengthen the resilience of logistic hubs with a European Ports Alliance, to dismantle criminal networks, to increase prevention efforts and to strengthen cooperation with international partners. These actions are scheduled to be implemented in 2024 and 2025.

The roadmap was adopted by the European Commission on 18 October 2023.

Official

European Commission: Migration and Home Affairs: Drug policy https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/internal-security/organised-crime-and-human-trafficking/drug-policy_en

EUROPOL: Crime Areas: Drug Trafficking https://www.europol.europa.eu/crime-areas/drug-trafficking

European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust): Crime Types: Drug trafficking https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/crime-types-and-cases/crime-types/drug-trafficking

European Commission: Press Release, 18/10/2023: Commission sets out new EU Roadmap of priority measures to fight organised crime and drug-trafficking https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_4981

European Commission: Questions and Answers on the Communication on the EU Roadmap to fight Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime (18 October 2023) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_23_4983

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News

Politico, 13/09/2023: Von der Leyen vows EU strategy to combat drug trafficking https://www.politico.eu/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-eu-strategy-combat-drug-trafficking/

The Guardian, 19/10/2023: EU warns of ‘child soldiers’ exploited by drug gangs https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/19/eu-launches-crackdown-on-cocaine-smuggling

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Commentary and Analysis

Politico, 16/10/2023: Cocaine Whac-A-Mole: A game Brussels is playing to win https://www.politico.eu/article/cocaine-whac-a-mole-drug-trafficking-europe-game-brussels-is-playing-to-win/

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