EU Council Recommends Enhanced Cooperation Between Member States to Combat Illicit Trafficking in Precursor Chemicals

In a recommendation dated April 25, 2002, the Council of the European Union recommends its Member States to enhance the cooperation and exchange of information between their operational units specializing in the combat to illicit drug precursor trafficking. It recommends that the exchange of experience and best practice between the Member States? various operational services and law enforcement authorities should be stimulated in such a way that direct channels of communication between these various national authorities can be strengthened. This requires coordination of action and exchange of intelligence data, which should in its turn be stimulated. Cooperation should furthermore focus on the imparting of up-to-date knowledge between national agencies. The Council urges that the existing cooperation between the control and law enforcement authorities on the one hand and the chemical industry on the other be continuously stimulated. Finally, the Council rightly considers that the diversion of chemicals is not an issue, which can be resolved by the Member States alone, but has to be addressed within a wider cooperational framework. Therefore, the Union should continue to develop action in geographical areas where criminal activity in connection with the illicit trafficking and diversion of chemicals occurs.