G7-Backed Network of 14 Ports Launched Against Drug Trafficking
France has launched the “G7+ Port Network”, a G7-backed alliance of 14 major ports set up to fight drug trafficking by sea. Named member ports include Marseille, Le Havre and Dunkerque in France, Hamburg in Germany, Genoa in Italy, Busan in South Korea and Houston in the United States. The network was unveiled with France’s international anti-drug action plan, published on 9 November.
The network brings together the seven G7 countries plus Brazil and South Korea, along with Interpol, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO). Ports and customs services will share intelligence, map trafficking routes and use artificial intelligence tools to track suspicious containers and shipments. It will work alongside the existing European Ports Alliance.
From the CrewMirror Blog
According to the French foreign ministry, about 70% of the drugs entering Europe arrive by sea and through ports. In 2025, around 20 requests to board suspected drug-carrying vessels on the high seas led to the seizure of roughly 40 tonnes of narcotics, almost all cocaine. The idea of the port network was first announced at the G7 summit in Évian in June.
CrewMirror Takeaway
Seafarers are often the first to be detained when drugs are found on board, even when smugglers used the cargo without their knowledge. Crews calling at these ports can expect closer checks, and careful seal checks, hull and container searches and clear records of findings help protect them.
