Cross-border drug investigations course takes place in Italy

CEPOL's Italian Framework Partner, École Universitaire Internationale organised CEPOL onsite activity 14/2023/ONS on Cross-border Drug Investigations in Castelpetroso (Italy) from 14-17 November 2023, addressing the new challenges and threats law enforcement and judicial authorities will be facing when combatting cross-border drug trafficking.

A total of 43 participants representing 24 delegations from EU Member States, Associate and Candidate Countries, along with Judicial Authorities and one EU Agency, attended this 4-day course which focused on the new trends in cross-border drug trafficking, and the newest neuroscientific application in the field that makes Europe a leading actor:

• New technologies and tools at the disposal of Member States (i.e. Satellite Images Analysis), their utilisation in supporting investigations and information gathering, for instance in tackling illicit production, identify trafficking routes, the international drug trafficking and drug insertion and distribution into markets;

• Undercover methods and techniques to enhance cross-border investigations. The course addressed Intelligence analysis techniques supporting investigative activities, how to implement them, along with methods and strategies to implement practitioners’ brain capabilities and skills by overcoming biases and cognitive limits that affect investigations and information gathering;

• Criminal, investigative and intelligence analysis in drug trafficking cases individuating multi-faceted aspects and connections with organised crime groups, along with financial investigative techniques. Current and future trends of the drug trafficking phenomena considering vectors and push factors that concern trafficking routes and modus operandi, and how to foresee them, their impact on law enforcement work and counteract activities.

• Strong collaboration and exchange among the law enforcement officials and judicial authorities, as well as amongst them and different agencies.

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The lectures addressed all topics in a strongly interactive way, also due to the constant sharing amongst participants during and after lectures, the debates and discussions of real cases by participants, analysing challenges and depicting solutions. A facilitator participated throughout the duration of the course to support  the development of meaningful connections amongst participants and trainers; and help the in-depth understanding of the topics and their links. The facilitator also helped participants assimilate the new scientific findings related to the challenges of transnational drug trafficking that the law enforcement practitioner has to face in order to implement investigations.

The learning environment was carefully designed along with the free and networking time in order to allow the creation of meaningful connections among participants. To do this, all available time windows were exploited, so that lasting networks and working relationships could be established among experts from different European countries and agencies, ready to contribute to future professional challenges.

Author: École Universitaire Internationale (Italy)

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