Category: Institutional

The Centre was pleased to welcome the new Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Europe Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Marissa Lee, on an official visit yesterday evening. She was accompanied by Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Stephen Shidell. The visitors were hosted at the Centre’s HQ by the Executive…

MAOC (N) was pleased to welcome Naomi Hughes, Regional Director for Latin America at the National Crime Agency (NCA), to the Centre’s headquarters for an official visit. She was accompanied by two officers from the Colombian Navy. The United Kingdom, through the NCA, is a founding member of MAOC (N), having joined the Centre at…

MAOC-N recently welcomed to its Headquarters in Lisbon a Colombian Delegation composed of the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Colombia in Portugal, Martha Patrícia Medina Gonzalez, and Colonel Adriana Gisela Paz Fernández, the Colombian National Police Attaché. The delegation was received by MAOC-N’s Executive Director, the Portuguese Executive Board Member, Artur Vaz,…

The Executive Director of MAOC (N) travelled to Ecuador to sign two Memoranda of Understanding (one with Ecuador’s National Police, and another one with Ecuador’s Navy) and to attend the official launch of the Fusion Centre, which was established under the EU-funded EUFORT-EC project and brings together key national authorities to monitor and assess maritime…

MAOC-N recently hosted a high-level delegation from the Portuguese Sistema de Segurança Interna (SSI), led by its Secretary-General, Patrícia Barão. Artur Vaz, Director of the National Unit for Combating Drug Trafficking (UNCTE) of the Portuguese Judicial Police, was also present. During the visit, Ms Pereira and her delegation were briefed on current maritime drug trafficking…

MAOC (N) recently hosted Mr Victor de Moura, Liaison Officer for South America from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), at its Headquarters in Lisbon. The visit provided an opportunity to reaffirm the long-standing and valued partnership between MAOC (N) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This cooperation has, over many years, contributed to international…

MAOC-N had the honour of hosting a high-level delegation from the United Kingdom (UK), led by the Minister of State for Security, Dan Jarvis, and composed of representatives from the UK’s Home Office and National Crime Agency (NCA). The delegation was received by MAOC-N’s Executive Director, José Ferreira, and Portuguese Executive Board Member, Artur Vaz.…

MAOC (N) recently hosted a delegation from the Belgian Public Prosecutors’ Office at its headquarters in Lisbon. The delegation was led by Mr Lode Vandaele, Prosecutor of the King from the Public Prosecution Service of West Flanders. The visit was hosted by the Executive Director, José Ferreira, and was briefed by an analyst on current…

MAOC-N recently hosted a delegation from the Irish Department of Defence, led by Bernie Maguire, Assistant Secretary for Defence & Security Policy. The delegation received an in-depth presentation on the Centre’s work, the ongoing cooperation with Irish authorities, and recent MAOC-N-supported operations, highlighting the latest and most relevant maritime drug-trafficking threats and challenges affecting Europe.…

MAOC-N recently welcomed Ms Floriana Sipala, Director for Internal Security and European Commission Counter Terrorism Coordinator, for an official visit to the Centre’s headquarters. During the visit, Ms Sipala was briefed on recent MAOC-N supported operations and on the latest maritime drug-trafficking trends that continue to threaten European borders and internal security. The meeting was…