MEPs demand tougher pan-European measures and new EU sanctions against narco-trafficking at seas

Renew Europe welcomes the adoption of the European Parliament's resolution for a stronger, coordinated EU response to narco-trafficking in Europe's waters. This resolution is an urgent step towards a Europe that protects its own waters and law enforcement officers who defend them. It sets a clear framework for broad international cooperation, establishing thorough coordinated maritime capabilities. Drug trafficking is inseparable from corruption, money laundering and illicit finance and Liberals and Democrats have long called for a new EU sanctions regime and stronger asset seizure and confiscation, which the entire European Parliament now calls for. In light of evolving drug markets, the Parliament also calls for legal changes to step up judicial and operational cooperation with West Africa and Latin America.

"Drug routes don't stop at Europe's borders - and neither should the response. Tackling trafficking means Europe, Latin America and West Africa working as one. This resolution matters for three reasons: First, it helps close the gaps in our response and makes it genuinely operational - by establishing thorough coordinated maritime capabilities, enhanced real-time coordination and intelligence-sharing as well as improved operational and judicial cooperation with West African countries to ensure that individuals convicted of serious drug trafficking offences do not evade justice.

Second, it introduces tougher measures against the networks behind this trade- stronger identification, freezing, seizure, and confiscation of assets linked to drug trafficking and organised crime to ensure that criminal proceeds are effectively traced and ultimately confiscated. And third, it doesn't stop at enforcement - it calls for real investment in prevention.", MEP Malik Azmani, Renew rapporteur on the resolution commented after the vote.

Drug-trafficking is a global criminal problem and a major threat for security and public health, social justice, and respect for the rule of law across Europe. The resolution comes at a moment after record seizures across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and record numbers became public. Criminal networks operating at sea are getting sophisticated, using go-fast vessels, semi-submersibles, fishing vessels and other methods to evade detection.

The EU parliament demands:

• Real-time coordination and intelligence-sharing between national authorities and partners (Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) (MAOC-N), EUDA, Frontex, EMSA, Eurojust, Europol), plus coordinated maritime operations in key Atlantic trafficking zones;
• More resources and capacity for MAOC-N in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, a proven model for international anti-crime collaboration;
• Stronger judicial and operational cooperation with third countries, including EU-West African cooperation and capacity-building to ensure that criminals hiding in Africa are extradited;
• Stronger action against corruption, money laundering and illicit finance tied to trafficking, including tighter controls at major EU ports;

The resolution addresses the need for improved maritime surveillance, intelligence and enforcement capabilities and focuses on transnational maritime drug trafficking along key trafficking routes. In plenary, MEPs called on Member States to strengthen the identification, freezing, seizure, and confiscation of assets linked to drug trafficking and organised crime and ensure that criminal proceeds are effectively traced, seized, and ultimately confiscated.  "You can't fight drug trafficking without following the money- that's why this resolution backs a new EU sanctions regime, with asset freezes, fund bans and travel bans, and why we're calling for stronger asset seizure and confiscation right across the Union", Azmani explained the need for new sanctions.