On 1 and 2 June 2022, the WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Western Europe (RILO WE) presented its “Annual Report - Review of Drug Seizures at Airports and Mail Centers 2021” during the annual meeting with the Pompidou Airports Group at the Council of Europe Headquarters in Strasbourg, France.

This year's review reveals new drug trafficking trends and practices that provide critical information for the day-to-day work of law enforcement officials at airports, mail centres and intelligence hubs.

The review, compiled by RILO WE analysts, is one of the main outcomes of the longstanding collaboration between that RILO and the Council of Europe Pompidou Airports Group. The analysis contained in the review is based on data collected through the WCO Customs Enforcement Network (CEN).

The Pompidou Airports Group meets once a year and primarily serves as a forum for the exchange of practical and operational information and practices relating to drug trafficking in commercial aviation.

The objective of the Group, which brings together Police, Customs, border forces and other law enforcement officers from around the world, is to develop and harmonize tools and systems to improve drug detection at European airports. The ultimate goal of its annual meeting is to reduce illicit trafficking through improved controls, risk management and profiling, detection and investigation techniques based on greater knowledge, awareness raising and exchange of information and best practices, as well as networking and multidisciplinary cooperation across airports.

The review is for official use only and can be requested at rilowe@zka.bund.de.