The threat of illegal drug trafficking in European ports: meta-analysis of 22 case studies.

The International Center for Research and Analysis Against Maritime Drug Trafficking in Colombia promotes collaboration between maritime entities at a global level to counteract drug trafficking by sea. Its mission encompasses the study and research of this phenomenon to develop strategies and obtain a deeper understanding of the threat. Between 2021 and 2023, 145 case studies have been published, of which 22 are linked to criminal activities in European ports. First, the total number of study cases is analyzed to determine the countries involved in the links of drug trafficking. Subsequently, the 22 cases that occurred in European ports are presented, "Four of them in Italy", with the aim of characterizing the modus operandi of international criminal organizations involved in illicit drug trafficking. The main finds are in the Adriatic Sea, the North Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The results are presented through geographic maps and graphs that highlight the origin and destination of criminal activities, the means of transportation used, as well as the quantity and type of substance trafficked. This approach allows obtaining a European assessment of maritime drug trafficking trends, contributing to the objective of analyzing information and generating coordination mechanisms to strengthen international cooperation in the study against illicit drug trafficking.