Eurojust Forms New European Prosecutor Network to Combat Latin American Cocaine Trafficking

A new network of European prosecutors has been established to target criminal organizations.

The European Union law enforcement agency, Eurojust, has announced the creation of the European Judicial Organised Crime Network (EJOCN), which is aimed at bolstering international judicial cooperation in the fight against organized crime.

The French Parquet de Paris revealed that the network’s primary focus for the next two years will be on tackling drug trafficking, particularly the trafficking of cocaine from Latin America to over 1,200 European ports. “Mainly to the trafficking of cocaine from Latin America to the 1200 European ports,” the group stated.

The inaugural meeting of the EJOCN took place on September 25 and 26, during which the scope and operational structure of the network were defined. Eurojust emphasized that this new body will help prosecutors “tackle recurring legal challenges and identify new, practical opportunities to cooperate.”

According to Eurojust, “76% of criminal groups in the EU are active in two to seven countries.” As a result, dismantling these groups necessitates “a transnational approach that is fast and flexible and that can adapt to an ever-changing criminal landscape.” The EJOCN’s initial focus will be on combating drug-related organized crime associated with European ports and logistical hubs.

Eurojust President Ladislav Hamran underscored the importance of the new network, stating that EJOCN will “strengthen coordination among specialist prosecutors and judges throughout the EU.” Hamran continued, “Through closer collaboration and by aligning judicial strategies across Member States, we send a clear message: organized crime knows no borders, but neither does our resolve to investigate and prosecute.”

The Parquet de Paris described EJOCN as a forum for “coordination and information sharing.” The French organization also noted that the network could potentially make recommendations to the European Commission on legal harmonization across different EU member states. 

By fLEXI tEAM