Europol launches joint operational team to combat irregular migration

EU police group Europol has launched Joint Operational Team (JOT) Mare in a bid to fight organised criminal groups facilitating the sea crossings of migrants across the Mediterannean Sea to the EU.

The intelligence-led JOT Mare is set to combine Europol's unique intelligence resources and Member States' capabilities to carry out coordinated and intelligence-driven actions against facilitators and smugglers.

“As well as ensuring an intensified exchange of intelligence with Frontex and close cooperation with Interpol, national experts seconded to JOT Mare will facilitate the necessary cooperation between Europol and the services of the participating EU Member States,” Europol said.

The influx of migrants via the Mediterranean Sea has been exponentially rising, with 220,000 migrants crossing in 2014, embarking on very risky journeys.

Europol intelligence shows that organised criminal groups are actively facilitating the transport of these irregular migrants across the Mediterranean. The same groups have also been linked to human trafficking, drugs, firearms and terrorism.

The migrants are exploited by the criminal groups who give them false promises and set them out to sea on vessels that jeopardise their lives. More than 3,000 people drowned in the Mediterranean en route to Europe in 2014 and there have been 1,000 deaths in 2015 alone.

“The tragedies we have seen at sea involving migrants requires prompt and coordinated action at EU level. The launch of JOT Mare could not be more timely. Europol and our partners attach great importance to the fight against criminal groups facilitating illegal migration and will combine all available resources to provide a proactive law enforcement response,” Europol director Rob Wainwright said.

Described as “proactive law enforcement”, the response would build on Europol's capabilities, identifying concrete investigative leads and supporting Member States in initiating new investigations. As well as collating and distributing appropriate intelligence, the data on the organised criminal groups will be analysed, from which specialised intelligence reports will be produced.

“I am very pleased to be able to personally witness the official launch of this very important initiative. This dedicated maritime intelligence centre, hosted and supported by Europol, has great potential: it will reinforce our actions against people smugglers; against the ruthless criminals who facilitate irregular migration to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea,” Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said.

“We will continue to encourage close cooperation among all national and European stakeholders, in order to pursue further our common objectives and to deliver concrete results.”