News release | 03-12-2025 | 13:00
On Wednesday, December 3, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar) extended the cooperation agreement between the investigation and prosecution authorities in Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom (National Crime Agency), and the Netherlands, as well as with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the 7th time. Germany joins as a full partner from this year. The European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC) of Europol also plays a crucial role in the project.
The Joint Team focuses on supporting criminal investigations into serious crimes against migrants and refugees on the Central Mediterranean Route (CMR), particularly in Libya. The cooperation of the Joint Team has led to investigations into crimes committed by some of the biggest players on the CMR in multiple European countries. In the Netherlands, the criminal investigations are conducted by the KMar under the authority of the National Public Prosecutors Office of the OM.
The Joint Team receives EU funding through the Migration Partnership Facility of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and is supported in its activities by the Centre for International Legal Cooperation.
Combating Human Smuggling
The KMar and the National Public Prosecutors Office are responsible for combating human smuggling in the Netherlands and beyond. This involves not only illegal migration but also extreme violence - including sexual violence -, exploitation, extortion, and endangering vulnerable people. Migrants are often forced to travel under degrading conditions. The KMar and the OM combat this form of serious organized crime in cooperation with (inter)national partners.
