Costa Rica and the Netherlands join forces to curb drug shipments to Europe via trade routes

Costa Rica's Minister of Public Security, Gerald Campos Valverde, made an official visit to the Netherlands to strengthen joint actions against international drug trafficking. Credit: MSP Costa Rica and the Netherlands are advancing the strengthening of their police cooperation to combat international drug trafficking, particularly the operations of criminal organizations that use trade routes to transport drugs from Costa Rican territory to Europe. As part of this effort, Costa Rica's Minister of Public Security, Gerald Campos Valverde, made an official visit to Dutch territory, where he held meetings with security authorities and learned about the operations of the port of Rotterdam, one of the main logistics infrastructures for international trade on the European continent. The meeting aimed to establish closer coordination mechanisms between the police forces of both countries, with the special participation of the Drug Control Police (PCD), which is responsible for investigating structures linked to the trafficking of illicit substances in Costa Rica. The visit also made it possible to address the challenges posed by the use of international trade routes by organizations dedicated to drug trafficking, especially those seeking to take advantage of the movement of goods between Latin America and Europe. According to the Ministry of Public Security, the meetings allowed progress to be made in establishing liaisons between Costa Rican and Dutch police authorities, with the purpose of facilitating joint work against criminal organizations operating in different territories. One of the main components of Minister Gerald Campos's agenda was his visit to the port of Rotterdam, an infrastructure considered strategic for European maritime trade due to its capacity to move goods from different regions of the world. The importance of this port within international commercial exchange also poses challenges for the authorities in charge of preventing the entry of illicit substances hidden in cargo moving along maritime routes. Transnational drug trafficking networks may attempt to take advantage of legitimate commercial operations to move drugs between producing countries, transit territories, and destination markets. In this context, coordination between police agencies is relevant for exchanging information on structures under investigation, identifying potential risks, and improving the detection of illicit activities linked to the transport of goods. During his tour of the port facilities, the Costa Rican official learned about aspects related to the security challenges faced by the Dutch authorities. In addition, the visit made it possible to establish contacts to reinforce investigations related to drug shipments from Costa Rica to the European market. The minister explained that the objective of this approach was not only to learn how the infrastructure operates, but to build working relationships that make it possible to identify those who participate in these activities. "We not only got to know the port of Rotterdam, but we also established the liaisons. For what purpose? To continue identifying these people who want to commit crimes, who want to send drugs from Costa Rica to Europe," said Campos Valverde. The port of Rotterdam, one of Europe's main logistics hubs, was part of Minister Gerald Campos's agenda during his official visit. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans Meeting with Dutch authorities to strengthen investigations During his official visit, Gerald Campos also held a meeting with David van Weel, the Netherlands' Minister of Justice and Security. The meeting made it possible to analyze opportunities to expand bilateral collaboration and strengthen coordination mechanisms between the institutions responsible for public security and the fight against organized crime. Among the main topics discussed was the need to maintain effective communication between the police agencies of both countries, especially in investigations related to structures dedicated to drug trafficking. The meeting also served to reinforce working relationships between the Dutch authorities and Costa Rica's Drug Control Police, with the aim of facilitating joint action against crimes that transcend national borders. Costa Rica and the Netherlands seek to reinforce police cooperation mechanisms to detect drug shipments using trade routes to Europe. Credit: MSP The head of Public Security explained that international cooperation is part of the government's strategy to confront criminal organizations that carry out operations inside and outside Costa Rican territory. According to Campos Valverde, strengthening police ties with the Netherlands will make it possible to coordinate efforts to identify people who intend to use Costa Rica as a departure point for drug shipments to Europe. "We are not going to allow that. We have a strong working model oriented toward that frontal fight against criminality," the minister stated. The official insisted that organized crime activities are not limited to a single territory, which is why they require cooperation mechanisms between the authorities of the countries involved. In the case of international drug trafficking, investigations can cover different stages of a criminal operation, from the storage and transport of substances to their entry into logistics chains and subsequent distribution. For this reason, coordination between the authorities of origin, transit, and destination countries constitutes one of the mechanisms used to investigate these structures and establish their connections. The Costa Rican authorities seek to particularly strengthen the capacity to identify those responsible for using trade routes for illicit purposes, as well as to improve communication channels that allow investigations carried out in both territories to be followed up. The Drug Control Police (PCD) will strengthen its ties with the Dutch authorities to exchange information on organizations dedicated to the international trafficking of illicit substances. Credit: MSP Minister Gerald Campos Valverde stated that the Costa Rican government's strategy contemplates strengthening police capabilities and expanding international alliances to confront criminal organizations. In his statements, the official noted that cooperation with the Dutch authorities will make it possible to develop joint work to identify and bring to justice people linked to criminal activities. "We are doing this because we want a safer Costa Rica, we want criminals properly detained and convicted, but above all we want this alliance that will allow us to work in a united manner and confront the criminality that exists here in Costa Rica, as well as that which exists in Europe," he said. The official highlighted that the meetings held during the visit were fruitful and reiterated the importance of maintaining permanent channels of coordination between police institutions. The strengthening of these relations is also framed within the need to confront crimes that require investigations beyond borders, particularly when criminal organizations use different countries to carry out their operations. In this regard, the Drug Control Police will play a relevant role in the continuity of the contacts established with the Dutch authorities.