New initiative aims to tackle smuggling at EU ports

The EU has launched a new initiative to combat gangs who have been smuggling vast amounts of cocaine into Europe from South America in recent years.

The new European Ports Alliance has been launched to enhance cooperation between the various authorities, and to explore ways to close off loopholes that gangs are using to squeeze drugs through.

While it is aimed at larger ports, it is understood that Revenue and the gardaÍ are interesting in playing a future role in the alliance.

With record cocaine production matching record seizures in the EU, the new body is designed to clamp down on criminal networks infiltrating ports to facilitate distribution.

Ports such as Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp handle freight ships containing millions of containers every year, and have become increasingly efficient so they can handle higher volumes in a more automated process.

But as a result, only 2% to 10% of containers are inspected, and criminal gangs are believed to be capitalising on this.

120 tonnes of cocaine were smuggled through Antwerp alone last year.

Europol said gangs have become adept at corrupting or intimidating port staff, and figuring out which containers aren’t going to be checked.

It said gangs have also become adept at counterfeiting the barcodes that link a container with its contents.

Violence has also been spilling over into port hinterlands.