The Policy Brief EU-LAC no. 12 forms part of the EU-LAC Foundation's series of analyses, recommendations and strategic contributions to enrich the bi-regional dialogue and the IV CELAC-EU Summit.
The EU-LAC Foundation (and the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) co-organised, with the support of the City of Hamburg, the two-day workshop ‘Port Cities Fighting Transatlantic Drug Trafficking’ in early April 2025. This policy brief presents some of the core themes and insights emerging from the workshop, highlighting a number of key takeaways.
A ‘cocaine bonanza’ – more supply and demand of purer and cheaper cocaine – is burgeoning on both sides of the Atlantic. Patterns of production, trafficking and consumption are constantly changing. New production territories, maritime routes and consumer markets are gaining prominence. Yet, the crucial role of ports in the smuggling of cocaine from Latin America to Europe has remained unchanged. The three major European ones of Antwerp, Hamburg and Rotterdam play a leading role here. Tackling transnational drug trafficking is a shared responsibility which requires a coherent, comprehensive and coordinated response not only from governments, customs and law enforcement but also civil society and industry on both sides of the Atlantic. Policies aimed at addressing the harms of transnational drug trafficking should be smarter, not just harder. It is essential to learn from experience, while also drawing on expertise and promoting dialogue between analysts, practitioners and decision-makers. Because of how transnational drug trafficking itself operates in a network structure, a network is needed to counteract it more effectively.
Recognising the tremendous challenges which local, national and international law enforcement face along the whole commodity chain with the surge in supply and demand, the repercussions for public health as well as the importance of fostering dialogue between experts and practitioners on both sides of the Atlantic, the European Union—Latin America and the Caribbean Foundation (EU-LAC) and the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) co-organised, with the support of the City of Hamburg, the two-day workshop ‘Port Cities Fighting Transatlantic Drug Trafficking’ in early April 2025. The event offered a unique space to generate in-depth, interdisciplinary and insightful discussion between experts from diverse backgrounds. The workshop’s core focus was to facilitate the exchange of knowledge as well as nurture action-oriented reflections on the changing dynamics of drug trafficking from Latin America and the Caribbean to Europe, addressing the role of ports and port cities herein especially. This policy brief presents some of the core themes and insights emerging from the workshop, highlighting a number of key takeaways.