Category: Institutional

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…

Ambassador Indra McCormick, the Australian Ambassador to Portugal who is also accredited to Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau & Sao Tome and Principe, was recently received by the MAOC-N Executive Director at its headquarters in Lisbon, accompanied by officers of the Australian Border force. Ambassador McCormick was briefed on MAOC-N’s activities and operations, with a view to…

Ambassador Jessica Lapenn, U.S. Ambassador to the African Union and U.S. Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation, was recently received by the Executive Director and the Head of Operations of MAOC-N at its headquarters in Lisbon. Ambassador Lapenn was briefed on some of the Centre’s past and current operations, with a particular focus on the vulnerabilities…

The Ambassador of the United States of America to Portugal Randi Charno Levine was recently received by the Executive Director and the Head of Operations of MAOC-N at its headquarters in Lisbon. Ambassador Levine was briefed on some of the Centre’s past and current operations combating the emergence of new maritime drug trafficking routes and…

The Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) expresses its deepest condolences to the family and fellow officers of the Spanish Customs Surveillance Service (SVA/DAVA) officer who recently passed away during a maritime operation in the Atlantic.

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…

On 09/02/2023, Real Admiral Oumar Wade from the Senegalese Navy, as well as Commander Jean Marin d’Hébrail from the French Navy, met the Executive Director and the Head of Operations of MAOC-N at the Centre’s headquarters in Lisbon for a joint analysis and discussion on the emergence of new maritime drug trafficking routes, with the…

On 13/02/2023, the MAOC-N Executive Director hosted a visit for the Minister of State at the Department of Justice of Ireland, Mr. James Brown, at the Centre’s headquarters in Lisbon. Minister James Brown, who was accompanied by the Ambassador of Ireland to Portugal Mr. Ralph Victory, visited the Centre following the country’s strong ties with…