The EU Seaport Cooperation Project (SEACOP), initiated in 2015, has significantly enhanced maritime security by addressing illicit trafficking in Latin America, the Caribbean, and West Africa. By facilitating intelligence sharing, inter-agency coordination, and training, SEACOP has become integral to the efforts of 13 nations combating transnational crime.
Alexander Kellman, SEACOP’s Deputy Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean, highlights the region’s strategic position as a transit zone for criminal networks due to its geographical location and porous borders. This vulnerability allows criminal organizations to exploit maritime routes for trafficking drugs, weapons, and other illegal goods.
Given the limited resources of small island nations, SEACOP provides crucial support by training inter-agency units that can quickly mobilize for operations. This decentralized approach has led to over 120 successful seizures of illicit cargo, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaboration and trust among regional partners.
As SEACOP marks a decade of operation, it celebrates not just its achievements in law enforcement but also the capacity-building efforts that have empowered over 750 officers across the Caribbean. Kellman emphasizes the pride in collective progress, stating, “When we move, we move together.”
Share it now
