Drug-related corruption and crime plague European seaports

The EU-funded POSEIDON project seeks solutions to the serious issues of corruption and organized crime in European port operations. As drug interceptions increase and local authorities seek solutions, the POSEIDON project puts in-depth analysis into action.

Trade in illicit goods has seen a dramatic increase in the past few decades as the global trade system has embraced containerization – the standardized system of transporting goods in uniform containers (like truck trailers straight on to container ships, for instance). This shift made global shipping quicker and more efficient, but also set the conditions for an increase in smuggling.

That smuggling has been driven by an increase of drug use in Europe. According to data from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the consumption of drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, and MDMA have all risen over the past decade.

Tackling crime

Ports serve as the primary entry point for illicit drugs into Europe, with estimates from the European Commission showing that nearly 70% of drug seizures by EU customs authorities occur in seaports.

In response, the European Commission has pounced on the issue of organized crime and corruption in the ports through a variety of different initiatives, including the European Ports Alliance, which includes strengthening law enforcement and, among other provisions, allocates €200 million towards new equipment to help customs authorities scan containers.

POSEIDON project research

Now, the POSEIDON project represents a renewed effort to fight against this organized crime and corruption, which often comes in the form of bribing or intimidating personnel. The criminality has also spilled out onto the streets of major cities, with an alarming uptick in drug and gang-related shootings in cities with key ports such as Antwerp, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

In collaboration with a pool of four partners and six supporting partners, Ecorys took the lead in research on vulnerabilities related to corruption, analyzing and mapping out the weak points and coming up with ways to address them. Other research partners include the University of Murcia (Spain), Ghent University (Belgium), and Fondazione SAFE, an Italian security and defense non-profit.

The research found a number of different factors fueling vulnerabilities at EU seaports. The findings focused on things like: the types of goods and containers used as well as the origin of the goods; the human factor, despite notable digitalization; close-knit communities in and around the ports; and the role of local politics.

Some of the macro-level factors that contribute to the problems of corruption and crime include factors like the huge size of the ports, the sheer volume of goods, prevailing economic conditions, and legislation affecting ports.

In order to address these issues, POSEIDON sought to put a set of best practices into place. One result of the research was the development of the POSEIDON dashboard, which maps best practices. The project also developed an EU standard for port supply chain integrity, with recommendations on addressing corruption in the port systems, including strengthening digital systems, promoting public-private partnerships, and continually monitoring new measures.

The conclusion of the POSEIDON project was marked by a final conference at the Port of Hamburg, in which stakeholders from law enforcement, EU institutions, non-profits, and experts discussed the project’s findings and the ongoing fight against corruption and organized crime in seaports.

“The successful completion of the POSEIDON project marks a significant milestone in efforts to secure and streamline the supply chain of European seaports,” stated Ecorys in a press release.

The growing Benelux drug problem

There has been a significant increase in the amounts of drugs (notably cocaine) flowing into ports in the Netherlands and Belgium. And though much of those drugs will find their way onwards to other EU countries, domestic consumption is clearly on the rise. Antwerp, which is home to the second largest port in Europe, was found to be the bloc’s top consumer of cocaine, according to the EU drugs agency.

Drug smuggling in the EU – and the related uptick in drug use – has also been noted in other major cities in the region like Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Brussels. Joint border police operations between the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg even implemented temporary border controls, in which they have been conducting searches of vehicles.

A recent joint report from the EU Drugs Agency (EUDA) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) warned that the large quantities of drugs being seized seems to point to “a significant degree of penetration by organized criminal networks in EU ports, including the likely corruption of some port staff.”

Antwerp was in the lead in terms of the amount of cocaine coming in, with over 400 kilos seized in 572 operations, while Rotterdam was in second with about 164 kilos seized in 554 different operations. Cannabis resin was the second most intercepted illicit substance found at EU ports, though amphetamines are also certainly not uncommon.