The European Commission (EC) has set up the European Port Alliance, which aims to bring together stakeholders to protect ports from drug trafficking and criminal infiltration.

The alliance was established with the participation of Belgium - the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), member states, port authorities, European associations, anti-crime agencies, customs and law enforcement agencies of the EU.

According to the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ms. Ylva Johansson, the majority of illegal drugs entering the EU are trafficked along maritime routes and 70% of drug seizures take place at EU ports.

The EC noted that cocaine seizures in the EU are at record levels, with more than 300 tonnes seized annually in recent years. In Belgium alone, authorities seized a record 121 tonnes of cocaine at the port of Antwerp-Bruges in 2023, up 10% from 2022.

DO CAO