Enhance the capacity for international Proyecto AMERIPOL-UE “AMERIPOL: Enhance the“AMERIPOL: capacity for international cooperation of
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Newsletter AMERIPOL-EU nº 3 August 2014 “AMERIPOL: Enhance the capacity for international cooperation of law enforcement, judicial and prosecuting authorities”
Introduction Dear friends, This third Newsletter of the AMERIPOL-EU project and the first one in 2014 is a diffusion of the results of the project achieved through the various activities carried out in the past months. In addition, we continue with the novelties introduced in the 2nd Newsletter and welcome a section titled COMMENT AND DEBATE where experts relevant to the project and people involved in the fight against drug trafficking offer their views on different situations. Among other things this month’s PROJECT ACTIVITITES section includes the workshop titled “Enhancing law enforcement and judicial cooperation to fight drug trafficking between Latin America, Europe and West Africa: Perspectives from the AMERIPOL-EU project and beyond” which took place in Madrid 1 and 2 of April. Officials responsible of various international bodies such as EUROPOL, INTERPOL, AMERIPOL, WCO and MAOCN, among others, and Anti-Narcotics Directors from countries affected by the problem of drug trafficking in Europe, Latin America and Africa attended. Through this activity the project continued showing its commitment in relation to the exchange of experiences related to international drug trafficking.
Summary
Introduction
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Project Activities
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Agenda
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Interviews
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Comment and Debate
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Back cover
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As always, we hope this newsletter will be of interest. Marcos Alvar Team Leader, AMERIPOL-EU Project
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ARE Brazil Spain and Germany, 3-11 November 2013 During this Awareness Raising Event three officials from Brazil (a federal prosecutor and two police officers) travelled to Spain and Germany to strengthen the relationship with the police and judicial authorities in these countries in order to facilitate and accelerate the extradition of two Brazilian citizens, as well as confirm and share information related with an international criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and organized crime.
the project. Some of the greatest achievements of the project were emphasized such as the coordination of joint operations, as well as the high number of officials who benefited from the various training activities carried out under the project, the future pilot system for communication exchange, the consolidation of doctrine instruments with the publication "Situational analysis of drug trafficking: a police point of view" and strengthening the AMERIPOL Units.
As a result of this activity organized through the AMERIPOL-EU project one of the drug traffickers was detained and two others have been sentenced to 7 years in prison and extradited. News related to this activity here (In Portuguese)
VI AMERIPOL Summit
The AMERIPOL President and Executive Secretary
AIAMP Ordinary General Assembly
San Jose, Costa Rica, 12-13 November 2013 The ordinary meeting of the AMERIPOL Directors’ council took place on 12 and 13 November in Costa Rica. AMERIPOL Member police forces, observers, as well as special invitees such as the Minister of Governance, Police and Public Security of Costa Rica, Mario Zamora Cordero, and the President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, attended the event. Marcos Alvar, Team Leader of the AMERIPOL-EU Project also participated in the Summit, held under the slogan “For a safer America”. During the first day of the Summit the main meetings of the Heads of the AMERIPOL Units were held, where a number of basic points for the future and consolidation of these units were agreed, highlighting the importance and the work done by
Quito, Ecuador, 18-19 November 2013 The Iberoamerican Association of Public Ministries (AIAMP) held its General Assembly in Quito (Ecuador). The president of AIAMP, Rodrigo Janot, General Prosecutor of Brazil, inaugurated the event. On the 20th November the Iberoamerican Seminar titled “The crime of money laundering” also organized by AIAMP. AMERIPOL-EU Key Expert Ms. Esmeralda Rasillo, a prosecutor from Spain presented the achievements and advances of the project as well as the activities planned for the future. During the Assembly, Brazil and Costa Rica were re-elected as Presidency and Secretary General of AIAMP respectively.
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The Presidency stressed the ARE organized by the project which allowed for a Brazilian prosecutor to travel to Spain and Germany in order to activate extradition orders of Brazilian nationals and emphasized the importance of the project in relation to international cooperation at prosecutor level. The General Secretary of AIAMP insisted on the high quality of the activities organized by the project, referring especially to the II Interinstitutional Seminar organized in Rome which he attended.
Conference on air and maritime cocaine trafficking in the Caribbean basin towards Europe and West Africa Fort de France, Martinique, 25-28 November 2013 Organized by EUROPOL and the French Police, this conference could count on the participation of different international organizations and partner countries working in the field of drug trafficking. Key Expert Mr. Pascal Benitez took part as a representative of the AMERIPOL-EU project. Colonel Yesid Romanos Linares, Key Expert of the project, also attended the conference, in his function of AMERIPOL President’s Delegate. The presentations of both experts offered clarifications with respect to their functions and especially the importance of differentiating the project from the institution.
CORMS Steering Committee Brussels, Belgium, 27 November 2013. The Team Leaders of the different projects part of the Cocaine Route Programme, Financed by the Instrument for Stability (current Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace), met in Brussels in order to update the information and results of the different projects as well as look for possible synergies for future activities. The AMERIPOL-EU project was represented by Team Leader Marcos Alvar. Mr. Miguel de Domingo, Director of the Area Justice and Home Affairs also participated in this meeting in representation of FIIAPP.
Information Meeting of the Cocaine Route Programme Brussels, Belgium, 28 November 2013. On 28 November 2013, the European Commission organized an information meeting related to the Cocaine Route Programme including representatives from Latin America, the Caribbean and West Africa. The meeting was an opportunity to debate and exchange experiences related to the planned activities in these regions. The AMERIPO-EU Team Leader Mr. Marcos Alvar presented the experiences and activities of the project related to improving and strengthening the exchange of information and intelligence in the region and the current development of the pilot system by the project. The documents of the meeting can be found here
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Operation Yana Mayu, Bolivia Bolivia, 5 December 2013.
AMERIPOL-EU Key Experts Team Meeting Madrid, Spain, 5 December 2013.
After various months of investigation and intelligence exchange through the AMERIPOL Unit Bolivia and the intelligence unit of the FELCN, the anti-narcotics operation called Yana Mayu coordinated by the AMERIPOL-EU project took place on 5th December in the Province of Guarayos, Department of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia. The operation against a drug trafficking criminal organization made up of Colombian and Bolivian nationals led to a Cocaine Crystallization laboratory with great capacity for refinement. The inquiries and the processed information indicated that the cocaine was sent to neighbouring transit countries, as Paraguay and Argentina, and afterwards to Europe.
As each year the AMERIPOL-EU project Key Experts and the rest of the team met in order to analyze the project activities, achieved results and pending objectives. During this meeting the activities for 2014 were planned.
A map of the laboratory located during the operation Yana Mayu in Bolivia
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Pasantía - “Institutional reinforcement for judges and prosecutors on international cooperation related to the fight against drug trafficking, among institutions in Latin America, Africa and Europe” São Paulo, Brazil, 9-11 December 2013.
Signature of the Letter of Intent between Europol y Ameripol The Hague, The Netherlands, 21 March 2014. As an additional effort to improve international police cooperation in the fight against organized crime the Director of EUROPOL Rob Wainwright, and the President of AMERIPOL, Commissioner Juan Jose Andrade Morales met in March at the EUROPOL Headquarters in order to sign the Letter of Intent establishing a cooperation framework between these institutions. The establishment of a mutual framework for collaboration will facilitate the mutual cooperation between these institutions in areas of common interest with the objective of improving coordination and ensure greater complementarity.
Organized by the FIIAPP in collaboration with the International Judicial Cooperation Secretariat of the Federal Public Ministry of Brasil the event could count on the participation of judges from Argentina, Spain, Panama and Peru, and prosecutors from Cabo Verde and Brasil. During the 3 days of the pasantía the participants visited various institutions of the Brazilian judicial system and shared experiences from their countries of origin as well as participated in several panel discussions with the receiving institutions.
Both EUROPOL and AMERIPOL, recognized the importance of cooperation and information sharing in order to achieve greater efficiency in the fight against common threats that countries in Europe and America are faced with. This letter of intent strengthens the relationships between police communities on both sides of the Atlantic.
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Workshop “Enhancing law enforcement and judicial cooperation to fight drug trafficking between Latin America, Europe and West Africa: Perspectives from the AMERIPOL-EU project and beyond” Madrid, Spain, 1 and 2 April 2014.
Senior officials of the European Union, EUROPOL, INTERPOL, AMERIPOL and MAOCN as well as anti-narcotics experts and police directors from different countries from Afrrica, Latin America and Europe discussed their experiences during the workshop titled “Enhancing law enforcement and judicial cooperation to fight drug trafficking between Latin America, Europe and West Africa: Perspectives from the AMERIPOL-EU project and beyond”, which took place on 1st and 2nd of April at the headquarters of the Spanish National Police in Madrid. The workshop was inaugurated by the Secretary of State for Security of the Ministry of Interior Mr. Francisco Martínez, the Programme Manager of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace at the EC, Ms. Valérie Miranda, and the Director of the Area Justice and Home Affairs at FIIAPP Mr. Miguel de Domingo. The event was closed by the General Director of the Spanish National Police Mr. Ignacio Cosidó the representative from the European External Action Service Mr. Philippe Percier and the Director of FIIAPP Mr. Pedro Flores.
Organized by the FIIAPP and the Spanish National Police, financed by the European Commission through the AMERIPOL-EU project had the following objectives: - To present the main results achieved so far under the AMERIPOL-EU project, including the Information Exchange Pilot System; - Encourage better coordination as well as information and intelligence exchange between the relevant stakeholders, at national, regional and international level; - To increase confidence among operators and facilitate joint work in the medium term to open new communication channels. The topics discussed included the International Police cooperation related to drug trafficking, the information exchange in joint operations, and the relationship between police and judicial cooperation on the fight against drug-trafficking, among others.
News (in Spanish): La voz libre Ministerio del Interior Ministerio del Interior Venezuela Noticias FIIAPP: here and here
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Magazine of the Spanish National Police:
Anticorruption Course “Understanding the mechanisms of police corruption related to drug trafficking to combat it more effectively” Nanterre, France, 20-22 May 2014. This course, organized in collaboration with the International Cooperation Directorate of the French Ministry of Exterior welcomed the participation of police officials specialists in internal affairs and corruption related to drug trafficking from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama y Peru.
In the conclusions of the course, it was established that corruption cases which have occurred in each of the countries are combated accordingly, using legal and police instruments available. Another common feature is that all involved nations are developing a policy preventing police corruption; influencing controls for entering the police force, as well as regarding awareness of what should be the professional ethics in the development of the police activity. Finally some concrete measures were proposed in order to fight more effectively against corruption in the police services. These measures focused on improving the staff selection processes, statutes and professional development, training, organization of the internal security units, hierarchy, internal control, complementary professional activities, and control procedures by citizens.
The training was conducted by members of the departments of Internal Affairs of the Gendarmerie and the French Police as well as the Spanish National Police and Civil Guard.
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Seminar “Fight against money laundering and organized crime” Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1-4 July 2014. This activity was organized jointly by the GAFISUD-UE and AMERIPOL-UE projects, both part of the Cocaine Route Program, financed by the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace of the European Commission. It was a replica of the II Inter-institutional Seminar for Police, Prosecutors and Judges: Fight against Money-Laundering and Organized Crime organized by the AMERIPOL-EU project in July 2013 in Rome.
countries such as Italy, Spain and the UK in the fight against this crime, data bases, analysis tools and georeferencing of information related to organized crime. This information was complemented by debate and working groups focused on improving cooperation and future efforts in the fight against money laundering.
More information here
The presentations were given by expert trainers, specialists in money laundering from the Guardia di Finanza (Italy) one of the consortium partners of the AMERIPOL-EU project. Police and prosecutors from the following countries participated in the seminar: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. During the four seminar days the participants received training related to the legal framework of money laundering, pre-investigation analysis, investigation techniques, practical cases, analysis and anti-money laundering inspections, strategies of EU AMERIPOL-EU Newsletter nº 3 – August 2014
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Drug trafficking workshop – IberoAmerican Network of Antinarcotics Prosecutors Montevideo, Uruguay, 1-4 July 2014. In the context of the initiatives promoted by the AIAMP in order to fight different crimes more effectively the creation of the Ibero-American Network of Antinarcotics Prosecutors was proposed through a workshop that brought together prosecutors from different countries in Montevideo. The Ibero-American Network of Antinarcotics Prosecutors has the following objectives: - Address different areas related to drug trafficking in Latin America through the reality and experience of each Prosecutor’s Office. - Promote transnational investigations related to drug trafficking. - Identify investigations linked to drug trafficking involving various countries in order to promote the exchange of information and joint research investigations. - Promote the use of Best Practices Manual for investigating drug trafficking and money laundering.
V international meeting and VIII national meeting of the network of observatories and crime investigation centres “Perspectives in citizen security in the world” Medellin, Colombia, 17 and 18 July 2014. The project Team Leader Mr. Marcos Alvar, participated in this event organized by the Colombian National Police, the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia, the Ministry of Interior of this country, UNODC and the Company for Urban Security (ESU). The overall objective of the meeting was to improve prevention mechanisms of coexistence and citizen security, allowing to show the importance of using information systems to combat crime, generating awareness on the responsibility that exists to address crime, guarantee security and protection of citizens in the exercise of the right to life, honour, property, beliefs and other rights and civil liberties.
The workshop allowed for the presentation of the AMERIPOL-EU project, its objectives, guidelines, outcomes and future actions. The Memorandum of Understanding between the AMERIPOL-EU project and the AIAMP was emphasized and especially transnational joint operations coordinated by the project where several prosecutors have intervened in both Latin America and Europe. One operation in particular resulted in the commencement of actions for developing International Legal Cooperation Treaty between Germany and Brazil.
More information news and program
More information related to this workshop news, concept note and a video
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Conference on police investigation on cocaine trafficking by air Santiago de Chile, Chile, 22-24 July, 2014.
VII Ordinary Meeting – Council of Directors of the American Police Community - AMERIPOL Quito, Ecuador, 4, 5 and 6 August 2014. Team Leader, Marcos Alvar, and IT Expert Vicente Sanz Flores participated in the VII Ordinary Meeting of AMERIPOL, that took place days 4 - 6 August 2014. Some of the most important interventions were those of the representative of the EU and the Minister of Interior of Ecuador José Serrano.
The AMERIPOL-EU Team Leader participated in this important event, organized by the COPOLAD program, which had the objective to provide a space for exchange of opinions and debate where different aspects regarding methodology of police investigation related to drug trafficking by air can be debated, such as: the use of humans for trafficking; the modus operandi of criminal organizations; routes; profiling suspicious passengers; as well as the importance of international cooperation in the fight against these crimes. This event could count on the participation of experts from Anti-narcotics police units, Special Prosecutors and Customs services in Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union, along with representatives from CICAD, AMERIPOL, EUROPOL and the European Commission (AIRCOP and AMERIPOL-EU Projects).
On 6 August, Sanz Flores presented the SIPASistema de Intercambio de Información Policial de AMERIPOL (AMERIPOL Police Information Exchange System) currently developed by the AMERIPOL-EU project and one of its most important results, which was very well received by the representatives of the different AMERIPOL Units. Unanimously, the Board of Directors elected as Executive Secretary for the period 2015-2017, the National Police of Ecuador, now held by the Superior General RODRIGO SUÁREZ SALGADO, General Commander of that police force.
More information: news1, news2, concept note, video More information here AMERIPOL-EU Newsletter nº 3 – August 2014
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Course on Drug trafficking via containers, Origin-Transit-Destination Rotterdam, The Netherlands, October 2014, This event has the objective of offering a general vision related to cocaine trafficking via containers, the primary routes, as well as the problem in the countries of origin, transit and destination. The idea is to offer a space for exchange and debate related to this topic where different opinions and experiences of multidisciplinary character can be presented. During the seminar visits to EUROPOL and the Port of Rotterdam are foreseen. One police official from each AMERIPOL member country beneficiary of the project is expected to attend. Trainers, experts in drug trafficking by containers from the Anti-narcotics department of INTERPOL, EUROPOL and the Netherlands National Police are expected to participate in the course.
Pasantia for judges and prosecutors to EUROJUST – Institutional strengthening in international cooperation related to the fight against drug trafficking between institutions of Latin America and Europe The Hague, The Netherlands November 2014. This pasantía has the objective to present the EUROJUST capacities and good practices related to the efficiency of the authorities in investigating and serious cross-border organized crime and bring offenders to justice quickly and effectively. Also the idea is to address issues related to cooperation and experience on judicial level in effectively combating cross-border organized crime in the European Union. The participation of about seven judges and prosecutors of the beneficiary project countries is expected as well as some of the AMERIPOL-EU Key Experts.
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In this edition, we count on the participation of two key stakeholders to answer our interview, whose institutions are deeply committed to the fight against drug trafficking and inequalities. We spoke with Francisco Javier Albaladejo Campos, Head of the International Cooperation Division of the Spanish National Police, and Maria Antonia van Gool, EU Ambassador in Colombia, about the international challenges and commitments in order to face this problem.
"Security actually has increased in Latin America" Francisco Javier Albaladejo Campos Chief of the International Cooperation Division Spanish National Police, Ministry of Interior, Spain
What is the commitment of the European Union in the fight against organized crime in Latin America after being present in that region for a long time? FJA - The European Union has been working for many years now on helping Latin American countries to combat organized crime in general and illicit drug trafficking in particular. There are many forums that work in a coordinated manner and the AMERIPOL-EU project fits into this general framework. AMERIPOL is the police community of the Americas created in 2007 by an agreement of the directors of the respective police forces and the
Spanish police has always considered that it is of great importance to help its establishment as a regional bloc of police cooperation in the region. The Spanish police has been present at the AMERIPOL Executive Secretariat in Bogota since its establishment and there is a direct relationship with the organization especially in offering assistance in training and technical collaboration. Moreover, in the EU we have always fostered collaboration with AMERIPOL. It was actually within this framework that the FIIAPP presented a project with the EU, with Spain leading the consortium with other EU Member States - France, Italy, Portugal and the UK - to carry out a project in AMERIPOL that would allow the creation of a system for exchange of police information related to the fight against trafficking. To this end, it has developed a system made up of AMERIPOL Units in each of the countries involved and a network of computer servers that allows direct and secure communication between each of the countries engaged in the project and the AMERIPOL headquarters in Bogota. The Team Leader of the project is a Chief Inspector of the Spanish police who has been present in the region for some time and we must say we are very pleased with the results. In fact, it has been considered to try to obtain funding from the EU for a second phase of the project which would allow including more countries in the project and expand activities further, thus move from drug trafficking to areas such as cybercrime and organized crime. Which actions do you think would encourage the consolidation of the results obtained by the AMERIPOL-EU project and other projects funded by the EU, focused on the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime? FJA – The first achievement is the decision for creating an information exchange system. This is normally very delicate and complex regarding the content of the information that will be shared with other partners in an international project. It has a
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number of reservations that must be overcome in the very beginning and accomplish changing the mindset of bilateral cooperation between two countries based on a bond of trust between those who will perform this exchange to a multilateral system in which information is put at the disposal of others. That involves changing the way of work, procedures, or the most difficult part, the culture or the mentality of the people who operate. To the extent that as the system becomes a success because it allows to exchange information and the results of this process translate into concrete operations that demonstrate the added value of these forms of cooperation; this will produce feedback, increased exchange of information and more countries will join the system. Then, the information exchanged will be of greater quantity and quality. The high economic growth of Latin America in recent years has not been translated into increased security. What is your opinion in this regard? What would be the right way to proceed in this respect? FJA- It is important to differentiate two things. Security has increased, but only when compared with previous statistics. If European security standards are applied to this region, most certainly there will be an important difference and from our security standards it will appear that this region isn’t at this level since the crime rates are higher, but in the regional context security rate is greater and better. It must be noted that it is a progressive process.
point of view. To say, in a very vulgar way, “life has no value”. Then there is a social context to be taken into account and there is an economic context which should enable a better development of societies in America. I hope that the growth in these last years will be translated in measures for improving living conditions of the people that live in these societies and that from there the crime related statistics will start declining. Crime doesn’t decrease only because of police or judicial action, but also as a result of creating socioeconomic conditions that will decrease the potential of people determined to commit criminal acts. The success in this area contribute to extending the values of Justice, transparency and security for the people and assets that the EU has fomented since its beginnings and the reason why our region continues to be admired, respected, and why not, envied in the regions that don’t enjoy the same ones. What do you expect will be the direction of the development cooperation policy of the European Union for Latin America after the recent changes in the European Parliament? FJA- I do not expect major changes. It is an established policy of the EU that will not be affected because the majority in the European Parliament is of one or another party. There is great political agreement between the major European parties and therefore I do not think there will be any significant changes in this policy.
On what should we focus in order for it to continue this trend? FJA- Basically as it occurs with crime in other parts of the world, work must be done in relation to preventing crime. Economic, social and cultural conditions are a fundamental factor also. When a country has suffered a war or a conflict, the value of the right to life actually decreases from an ethical AMERIPOL-EU Newsletter nº 3 – August 2014
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“The AMERIPOL-EU project is being consolidated as a useful and effective tool” Maria Antonia van Gool EU Ambassador in Colombia
parts of the world, and especially with Europe. We cannot forget that the Old Continent is unfortunately a major consumer of cocaine, and within the project countries there are not only drug-producing countries as Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, bur also transit countries such as Ecuador, Brazil and Panama. In this regard and in the context of shared responsibility on the issue of drugs, we have supported the police, judiciary and prosecutor cooperation through the AMERIPOL-EU project aimed at integrating the various police forces in the region. Just to cite one example, recently in May the AMERIPOL Units (UAs) were provided with secure and encrypted emails through their own servers equipped with separate lines installed in the AMERIPOL Executive Secretariat in Bogota.
What is the commitment of the European Union in the fight against organized crime in Latin America after being present in that region for a long time? MAvG – The European External Action Service (EEAS) follows closely the world events and particularly activities that threaten security or affect peace. In this context, the fight against organized crime is increasingly important not only at a local level or regional levels, but in a global way. In Europe, EUROPOL is a clear example of coordination of our police forces to combat the various criminal activities and of course organized crime, the threat of terrorism and any other important crime that affects us. In Latin America we have also been working on these issues. In fact we have shared our experience through EUROPOL, and also EUROJUST. We also have numerous projects funded by the EU in the region, which contribute to combating organized crime not only in Latin America but also in other
Also, in August, we will formally present the AMERIPOL information exchange system during the ordinary summit of the institution in Quito. This system fully funded by the AMERIPOL-EU project will provide AMERIPOL with its primary communications and data storage tool for intelligence equal to those of INTERPOL or EUROPOL. Which actions do you think would encourage the consolidation of the results obtained by the AMERIPOL-EU project and other projects funded by the EU, focused on the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime? MAvG – I am convinced that the AMERIPOL-EU project is being consolidated as a useful and effective tool in order to offer added value to the six participating countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Panama and Brazil) since it has positioned itself as a reference point in the region, as EUROPOL in the EU. We must recall that three years ago the AMERIPOL
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Units (AUs) were not consolidated and today the system of secure emails and encrypted information is a reality. The AUs are integrated in their respective police forces, in addition to the exchange of information which has already produced excellent results. I know how it strategically works. I would also dare to say that as it happened with Interpol worldwide or Europol in Europe in order to evolve and consolidate, AMERIPOL also has its time to develop and grow, given that the political context in the region is very different. In particular I can cite actions and visible results of AMERIPOL in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking, as well as the aforementioned AUs, confidence building in the region is essential for cooperation to be effective, development of a secure information exchange system, a letter of intent between EUROPOL and AMERIPOL, joint investigations with concrete results on the field, training criminal intelligence analysts, courses, seminars etc ...). I believe that it is necessary to continue developing efforts in order to strengthen the foundations built by the project. This shouldn’t be a short impulse, but should be continued over time, and for that the commitment of Latin American countries is crucial. A clear example is that of EUROPOL that after more than 20 years continues evolving. The high economic growth of Latin America in recent years has not been translated into increased security. What is your opinion in this regard? What would be the right way to proceed in this respect? MAvG - Unfortunately, as some studies indicate, despite a growing economy with sustained growth, Latin America remains to be a comparatively insecure region. There are structural factors that contribute to this such as socioeconomic inequalities which are still very noticeable. On the
continent there are still high levels of social exclusion, in some cases slow judicial systems, and the scourge of corruption that threatens governance. It is clear that drug trafficking is one of the primary activities of organized crime all over the world which thrives because of failures in international cooperation that still exist and of course affects the security in different regions. As the economy grows and changes, unfortunately trafficking routes also evolve and change affecting security in different parts. We also know that drug trafficking is closely related to other forms of organized crime. With regard to the aforementioned structural factors, the European Union works with Latin American Governments in programs that seek to address these issues, both in terms of social exclusion and poverty, as well as reforms to the judicial systems and promoting good governance. With regard to the fight against international organized crime, since 2009 a Global Action Plan titled “Cocaine Route Program” was created in order to fight these criminal networks. Financed by the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace the program is meant for all regions including routes from Latin America to Europe, with special emphasis on West Africa, where the threat has emerged more recently and whose capacity deficit is high. The purpose of the Plan is to strengthen the international cooperation capacities between law enforcement, judicial and prosecuting authorities in the affected regions. The interventions focus on creating infrastructures of persecuting drug trafficking at certain airports and ports in West Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean as well as in establishing transregional frameworks for judicial cooperation, training, joint investigations and operations as well as exchange of information. Another component of the Global Action Plan is the fight against money laundering. Work is underway in Latin America and we are gradually
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trying to establish links with West Africa. The interventions come from regional institutions with law enforcement functions that combat money laundering, among which the Financial Action Task Force of South America against Money Laundering (GAFISUD). Another major component is directed to the Police Community of the Americas (AMERIPOL), its Member States and other key stakeholders.
the case of Colombia, supporting the fight against poverty, support for climate change always go in one direction and with a clear objective: to have a more just society and welfare, trying to achieve coexistence and balance, and this applies to both Europe and Latin America.
Finally, there is a support mechanism for coordination and monitoring. The final purpose is to ensure the coherence between the different actions and their complementarity with existing international mechanisms. This would give greater inclusiveness to the fight against organized crime. What do you expect will be the direction of the development cooperation policy of the European Union for Latin America after the recent changes in the European Parliament? MAvG – The European Union and its institutions have their own dynamics and changes. Certainly 2014 has been a year of many changes. A new European Parliament, President of the European Council and the Commission and new commissioners, but this does not mean that there will be major changes in political orientation. The objectives of the European Union are clearly defined by the various treaties and the institutions and their officials work accordingly in order to meet these goals. In this sense our policy with Latin America continues to grow. We have strategic partners in Latin America, free trade agreements with several countries in the region, agreements, framework agreements and above all a common vision with common values. Also, as we have seen with projects like AMERIPOL-EU our work in judicial cooperation, support for regional security, peace support as is AMERIPOL-EU Newsletter nº 3 – August 2014
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Enhance the capacity for international Proyecto AMERIPOL-UE “AMERIPOL: Enhance the“AMERIPOL: capacity for international cooperation of
Comment and Debate law enforcement, judicial and prosecuting cooperation authorities”of law enforcement, judicial and prosecuting authorities”
In this edition, we release the new section: Comment and Debate with the participation of our Key Expert Emerald Rasillo from the General Prosecutor’s Office of Spain who works, among other areas, in strengthening international cooperation between public prosecutors. She also provides an added value for the AMERIPOL-EU project, encouraging joint activities through AIAMP and different stakeholders in fiscal and judicial matters in Latin America.
The AMERIPOL-EU Project and its objective to reinforce international cooperation against drug trafficking towards Europe Esmeralda Rasillo López Prosecutor from the Support Unit of the General State Prosecutors Office and AMERIPOL-EU Key Expert The new global dimension of the world requires the overcoming of the concept of criminal law as a manifestation of sovereignty of the states since criminal organizations operate and their effects extend beyond borders. Besides the old concept of sovereign justice limited to its territory favours the impunity of criminals and international organizations. Given this phenomenon of globalization of criminal activities, the international community has assumed that cooperation between countries and their legal systems is a pressing need to defend living standards seriously threatened by them. Undeniably, there have been great advances in international criminal cooperation through International Treaties and building the common European space. However the answer is not always quick or effective when faced with the divergence of the different legislations in criminal law. Thus, legal practitioners claim homogenization of the response of criminal law to the same criminal phenomena, still distant, as closest and most simplified collaboration mechanisms.
In my opinion, the AMERIPOL-EU project fully connects with the expressed needs and highlights three key aspects for achieving adequate practices related to international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking that meet the criteria of agility and efficiency, with submission in any case to the Rule of Law. Firstly, the project is conceived as an instrument of stability for the beneficiary countries funded by the European Union and managed by FIIAPP. It offers international support against drug trafficking from cocaine producing countries as well as transit countries in Latin America and Africa towards Europe. During the identification phase of the project and after the analysis on the field, it was decided that Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama would be the beneficiary countries of this project. However, its influence extends to other countries in Latin America and some African countries such as Ghana or Ivory Coast. Secondly, the project was designed with the objective to integrate and collaborate with already existing organizations as the Police Community of the Americas (AMERIPOL) and the Ibero-American Assembly of Public Ministries (AIAMP). In this regard the AMERIPOL Units, intensely supported by the project, are an example of this integration. They are constituted by police forces of the project beneficiary countries, which in turn are part of AMERIPOL. Also, the AMERIPOL institution has its autonomous headquarters in Bogota, the Executive Secretariat of AMERIPOL, where the AMERIPOLEU project is integrated through the police expert appointed by the National Spanish Police. In this same line of integration, a secure information exchange system for the beneficiary countries is being developed, a system that is key to prevention and police work against drug trafficking. The third, and not less relevant, aspect is training. The trainings in the project have been undertaken
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from a fresh perspective. Indeed, along with specific training for police, joint trainings for police, judges and prosecutors have been organized. These multidisciplinary training activities are proving enormously enriching and useful since they cover various points of view, both judicial and police related. Also good practices of European police forces have been introduced through courses taught by different European law enforcement agencies. The importance of training for prosecutors within the project led to the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ibero-American Assembly of Public Ministries (AIAMP) in 2011, whereby over 90 prosecutors from these countries have been trained. Apart from this, these training meetings foster mutual understanding which is the basis for building trust between police and legal practitioners from different countries. From this approach, various police investigations and prosecutions ended in both convictions and destruction of several drug laboratories, drug arrests, as well as seizures of money, drugs and goods. It is precisely this mutual knowledge, gained through the training, that allowed to undertake joint action between the AMERIPOL-EU Project and the Public Ministry of Brazil as explained in continuation. In August 2013 two Brazilian individuals were detained in Spain for their alleged commission in our country for a crime of trafficking in psychotropic substances in outstanding amounts. One of those detained was in turn claimed by the judicial authorities in Brazil since there was a pending conviction of nine years imposed by a Brazilian court and another criminal case on charges of trafficking drugs and psychotropic substances between Brazil and Europe.
the Public Ministry of Brazil shared the need to collaborate with the experts of the AMERIPOL-EU project so that links are established between the prosecutors from Brazil and European judicial and prosecuting authorities in order to collect information on a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and allegedly led by one of the detainees. The European Commission authorized that within the framework of the AMERIPOL-EU Project, a Brazilian prosecutor in charge of the processes in Brazil travels to Spain and Germany in November 2013 with two officers of the Brazil Federal Police. The meetings of the Brazilian delegation with judges, prosecutors and police officials in Spain and prosecutors in Germany were coordinated by the Prosecutor of the International Cooperation Unit in Spain. The results of all these joint efforts have been very positive. On the one hand, Brasil channeled letters rogatory to Spain and Germany. On the other hand, relevant information was collected for identifying members of an international organization dedicated to drug trafficking between Brazil and Europe. Finally, this event served as a boost at a diplomatic level for preparing a Treaty of International Judicial Cooperation between Germany and Brazil. The AMERIPOL-EU project aims to ultimately continue its aim to contribute to building trust and serve as a support in the coordination between countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa in the fight against drug trafficking.
The Public Ministry of Brasil was aware of these arrests through INTERPOL and immediately the Secretariat for International Judicial Cooperation of AMERIPOL-EU Newsletter nº 3 – August 2014
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Proyecto AMERIPOL-UE “AMERIPOL: Enhance the capacity for international cooperation of BACK COVER law enforcement, judicial and prosecuting cooperation authorities”of law enforcement, judicial and prosecuting authorities” STATICS of the European Drug Report 2014 EMCDDA
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The hole of universal justice threatens more anti-narcotics operations EL UNIVERSAL wins Ortega y Gasset award for drug trafficking report New synthetic drugs are created every day The bridges of drugs Cooperation with Europe against drug trafficking increases Operation of the Anticorruption Office of the Prosecutor against the Camorra.Collaboration with the Guardia di Finanza from Italy Peru intensifies the fight against drug trafficking and will intercept “narcoplanes” México and the EU to an strategic cooperation in the control of the ilicit drugs and organized crime
AN IMAGE Drug trafficking routes and markets
PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST -
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Commission en direct EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assesment (EUROPOL) Eurosocial’s Magazine Encuentros 3 Study on judicial cooperation, mutual legal assistance and extradition of drug traffickers and other drug-related crime offenders, between the EU and its Member States and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries World Drug Report 2014 UNODC
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Interview Veimar Rojas for the FIIAPP blog Presentations - course on equity investigations held at the Centre for Legal Studies in Spain Drogues, Chiffres clés French action in the fight against drug trafficking
Source: European Drug Report 2014 - EMCDDA
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