Author: Inês Melo

The Executive Director of MAOC-N, Sjoerd Top, recently visited the headquarters of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) in Warsaw, Poland. The visit aimed at enhancing collaboration in maritime security and combating international organized crime. Discussions focused on sharing insights and intelligence and on strengthening joint operations against transnational criminal networks. The visit…

Last week, the Executive Director, the Head of Operations and the Analyst Team Leader of MAOC-N hosted the European Commission Head of the Organised Crime and Drugs Policy Unit, Ms. Floriana Sipala, at the Centre’s headquarters in Lisbon. The visit of Ms. Sipala marks a pivotal step towards strengthening the cooperation between MAOC-N and the…

Last week, the Executive Director and the Head of Operations of MAOC-N received the Commander of the Portuguese Maritime Police, Vice-Admiral João Aresta, at the Centre’s headquarters in Lisbon. The meeting reaffirmed the excellent cooperation between the Portuguese authorities and MAOC-N, as well as the country’s strategic importance in fighting maritime drug trafficking in the…

Earlier this month, the MAOC-N Head of Operations and Analyst Team Leader hosted the Commanding Officer of HMS Trent Royal Navy ship and his team, at the Centre’s headquarters in Lisbon. Considering HMS Trent’s imminent deployment, MAOC-N provided a briefing on some of the Centre’s operations with a particular focus on the vulnerabilities in their…

Last week, the Argentinian Prefectura Naval was received by the Head of Operations of MAOC-N at the Centre’s headquarters in Lisbon. The Argentinian delegation was briefed on MAOC-N’s recent activities and operations, with a view to strengthening and further exploring the recent cooperation between the Prefectura Naval and MAOC-N. The Prefectura Naval also delivered a…

On 18/05/2023, the Executive Director of MAOC-N received the Minister for Security of the UK, Tom Tugendhat, at the Centre’s headquarters in Lisbon. Minister Tugendhat, who was accompanied by his Private Secretary and by the Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Lisbon Ross Matthews, was briefed on some of the Centre’s operations…

The Ambassador of France to Portugal, Ms. Hélène Farnaud-Defromont, was received by the Executive Director of MAOC-N, Mr. Sjoerd Top, at its headquarters in Lisbon. Ambassador Farnaud-Defromont was briefed on some of the Centre’s past and current operations and discussed viable collective initiatives and solutions to mitigate the new emerging threats posed by transnational organised…

On 15/05/2023, the Executive Director of MAOC-N Mr. Sjoerd Top hosted the Ambassador of Italy to Portugal at the Centre’s headquarters in Lisbon. Ambassador Carlo Formosa visited the Centre following the country’s close collaboration with MAOC-N since the Centre’s establishment in 2007. As one of the founding countries, Italy has been a key strategic partner…

On the 8th and 9th of March, MAOC (N) organized a high-level conference on West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, bringing together high-level officers from relevant countries within the sub-region and Europe, to openly discuss and examine the existing challenges regarding maritime interceptions and the boarding of vessels suspected of engaging in illicit drug…