22/07/2025
European projects join forces to fight illicit maritime trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean
Family photo.
The GRES technical committee was held in Peru, through the SEACOP project, with the aim of ascertaining the current status of the initiative, identifying the weaknesses detected and establishing a concrete strategy.
GRES is an initiative implemented in Latin America and its fundamental pillars are knowledge of the threat, confidence and security. It is the basis for building a Special Response Group against specific threats in the Pacific-Caribbean maritime domain with a final destination in Europe.
This initiative offers effective cooperation to have an impact on specific threats and, in addition, it counts on the collaboration of other European projects, such as EMPACT or PACCTO 2.0, with the aim of carrying out joint operations in this fight against illicit maritime trafficking.
After being briefed on the progress and state of implementation of this GRES initiative by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Director against Drugs, a space was opened for debate in which the specialists who participated, from the different countries involved, were able to make their valuable contributions and recommendations.
In addition, different working groups have been organised to analyse the current situation of drug trafficking in the Pacific-Caribbean maritime domain and once the vulnerabilities, recommendations and needs have been identified, the SEACOP project has proposed a series of activities within the framework of the GRES Pacific strategy that will be implemented in the coming months.
With the support of PACCTO 2.0 and the RFAI, a working group led by the two coordinators of the Prosecutors’ Network was held to analyse, evaluate and identify opportunities and weaknesses in the implementation, execution and development of controlled deliveries. This special investigative technique requires a perfect knowledge of it, articulating all the actors involved, good operational execution taking into account the possible foreseeable problems and adapting to the unpredictable factors that may arise.
