News

  • The EU General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union visits MAOC-N

    The EU General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union visits MAOC-N

    MAOC-N recently welcomed a visit from the EU General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union. During the visit, the EU General Secretariat delegation gained insights into MAOC-N’s operational actions – including recent operations and information sharing to combat drug trafficking and organized crime at sea – and received updates on the latest developments,…


  • U.S Senator Kyrsten Sinema visits MAOC-N

    U.S Senator Kyrsten Sinema visits MAOC-N

    Kyrsten Lea Sinema, a senior United States senator from Arizona, was recently welcomed by the Executive Director of MAOC-N at its Headquarters in Lisbon, to discuss issues related to border security and international counterdrug efforts. During her visit to MAOC-N, the Senator was briefed on some of the Centre’s current operations – with a particular…


  • Executive Director of MAOC-N visits FRONTEX HQ

    Executive Director of MAOC-N visits FRONTEX HQ

    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…


  • Ms. Floriana Sipala, Head of the Organised Crime and Drugs Policy Unit at The European Commission DG Home and Migration Office, visits MAOC-N

    Ms. Floriana Sipala, Head of the Organised Crime and Drugs Policy Unit at The European Commission DG Home and Migration Office, visits MAOC-N

    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…


  • Vice-Admiral João Dores Aresta, Director of the Portuguese Maritime Authority and Commander of the Portuguese Maritime Police, visits MAOC-N

    Vice-Admiral João Dores Aresta, Director of the Portuguese Maritime Authority and Commander of the Portuguese Maritime Police, visits MAOC-N

    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…


  • MAOC-N supports Portuguese “Operação Cristal”, seizing 1,000kg of cocaine on a sailing vessel near the Azores

    MAOC-N supports Portuguese “Operação Cristal”, seizing 1,000kg of cocaine on a sailing vessel near the Azores

    The Portuguese Judicial Police, through its Southern Directorate in Portimão, and with the support of the Portuguese Navy and the Portuguese Air Force, carried out a maritime operation, named “Operação Cristal”, that resulted in the seizure of approximately 1.000kg of cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of the Azores, Portugal. The target of…