The collaboration between various investigative and enforcement services in the North Sea Canal Area has been officially ratified today.
The collaboration includes the Customs, the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD), the National Police (Regional Unit Amsterdam, Regional Unit North Holland, and the National Expertise and Operations Unit), and the Public Prosecution Service (Amsterdam and North Holland Public Prosecution Offices).
The North Sea Canal Area is vulnerable to abuse by criminal organizations due to its strategic location and high-quality logistics infrastructure, particularly in the area of drug smuggling.
Structural Collaboration for a Safer North Sea Canal Area
The HARC collaboration, as laid down in the cooperation agreement, not only provides a joint approach to this issue but also offers insight into how criminals exploit the logistics processes in the area.
This enables the partners to take preventive measures as well. Furthermore, the collaboration contributes to strengthening the intelligence picture and information position regarding the North Sea Canal Area – an essential basis for an effective and future-oriented approach.
Objective of the Collaboration
Under the name HARC-NZKG, the parties will enter into a collaboration for a minimum period of five years. The collaboration aims to combat the illegal trade in narcotics and related prohibited goods, including precursors for synthetic drugs. It also focuses on preventing these substances from entering societal traffic.
An important part of the approach is contributing to the fight against non-official corruption, as well as confiscating unlawfully obtained assets and pursuing financial restitution.
Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen information exchange between the involved parties and to discourage criminal organizations from using the North Sea Canal Area as a transit point.