SEACOP

SEAPORT COOPERATION PROJECT

A project funded by the European Union

Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace

CONTEXT
According to UNODC in 2007, an estimated 47 tonnes of cocaine were smuggled from Latin
America via the Caribbean towards West Africa stored and divided and then subsequently
sent on to Europe. This transatlantic traffic is mostly concealed among legitimate cargos
or on board of yachts, speedboats or fishing vessels. SEACOP (Seaport Cooperation
Project) was launched to curb this practice through institutional and capacity building
activities. Together these enhanced capabilities will result in a real and tangible impact
against maritime trafficking. The project is currently implemented in selected West African
countries.

COUNTRIES COVERED:

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS:

The overall objective of SEACOP is to support the fight against maritime illicit trafficking and
associated criminal networks in the targeted countries and regions.

Benin, Cape Verde, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau,

Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Trinidad &
Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean.

DURATION:
78 months: July 2010 December 2016

A consortium of EU Member States:

FIIAPP, Spain , LEADER
ADETEF, France
Policia Judiciaria, Portugal.

PURPOSE

National Crime Agency (NCA), UK

The purpose of SEACOP is to provide the means (equipment, IT tools, and the related
skills) to targeted countries and regions to:

UK Border Force (UKBF)

1. Reinforce their seaport control and intelligence capacities by setting up, consolidating
and equipping dedicated Units in seaports or sensitive coastal areas.

FACTS AND FIGURES (March

2015):

2. Improve or set up local maritime information and control systems.

3. Enhance the operational delivery and cooperation at national, regional and transregion levels.

ACTIVITIES
1. Create inter-agency Joint Maritime Control Units (JMCUs) and Maritime Intelligence
Units (MIUs) in key ports.

Number of people trained: 342

Number of training: 24
JMCUs established: 7 (Benin, Cape
Verde (2), Ghana (2), Senegal, and
Togo)
JMCUs soon operational: 2 (Cape
Verde-Sal, Sierra Leone)
Regional Workshops: 4

2. Comprehensive training in maritime rummage techniques by EU Member State

experts.
3. Procurement of search equipment, protective clothing and Information technology
to support the activities.
4. Planned mentoring activity maintained following the training.
5. Improving cooperation at regional and trans-regional level, including on intelligence
sharing.
6. Creating national maritime information systems and promoting the sharing of
information regionally.

CONTACTS:
Geoffrey Chalder
Team Leader
E-mail: Geoff.Chalder@virgin.net
Valrie Miranda
Programme Manager, EuropeAid
E-mail: valerie.miranda@ec.europa.eu

COCAINE ROUTE PROGRAMME