Gioia Tauro, Italy (Ports Europe) November 14, 2024 – As part of the European Ports Alliance action, customs representatives from 16 EU countries have visited the Port of Gioia Tauro in Reggio Calabria, Italy. They were there to assess the port’s measures used to fight illegal drugs and counterfeit goods imports.
The delegation included representatives from the European Commission and Italy’s Agenzia delle dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM-customs and monopolies).
At a presentation, one of the speakers was Andrea Mazzella, ADM Director of International Relations, highlighted the importance of synergy between ADM, Guardia di Finanza and the local port authority. He said that this was a daily effort and could be a model for other EU ports.
Gioia Tauro is Italy’s leading container port, handling 3.54 million TEUs in 2023. As with other large European ports, Gioia Tauro is targeted by criminal organisations who are using the port for significant smuggling activities.
Earlier in October, the Provincial Command of Reggio Calabria and ADM seized a shipment of 280 kg of cocaine in shipping containers at Gioia Tauro. Most of the illegal drugs come from South America. Europe has now surpassed the United States as the leading global market for cocaine.
Last January, the Commission and the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Member States, ports authorities, European associations, EU Agencies (Europol, EMCDDA) and representatives from customs and law enforcement authorities launched the European Ports Alliance Public Private Partnership.
It will bring relevant stakeholders together to protect ports from drug trafficking and criminal infiltration. It follows up on the EU Roadmap to fight Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime.
Despite increasingly successful seizures of illegal drugs by European authorities, criminal gangs adapt quickly and the volume which passes through ports undetected is probably very high.
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