Irish authorities have set up a high-level implementation group to join a European ports network tasked with tackling the booming sea trade in international drug trafficking. The European Ports Alliance brings together the State and the private sector to boost intelligence gathering and cooperation between police, customs, and privately-run ports. There are no Irish ports on the list. “Ireland is supportive of the European Ports Alliance Public Private Partnership, which is a welcome step in the fight against organised crime,” it said. Speaking at the launch of the European Drug Report 2024 by the monitoring centre last week, the EU’s home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson said: “The European drug market is fast moving and volatile, fuelling violence and corruption.

Source: Irish Examiner June 17, 2024 16:04 UTC