International Joint Team cooperation against serious migration crimes extended
On Wednesday 3th December, the Netherlands National Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar) extended the cooperation agreement between law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities in Italy, Spain, UK (National Crime Agency), the Netherlands, and the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (OTP-ICC) for the 7th time. Germany will join as a full partner from this year. Also Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Center (EMSC) 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), in particular in Libya. In several European countries the cooperation within the Joint Team resulted in the investigation of crimes committed by key players on the CMR. In the Netherlands, the criminal investigations are conducted by KMar, under the authority of the National Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The Joint Team receives EU funding via the Migration Partnership Facility of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. The implementation of its activities is supported by the Centre for International Legal Cooperation.
Combating migrant smuggling
The National Office and the KMar are responsible for combating migrant smuggling in and outside the Netherlands. This is not just about illegal migration, but also extreme violence - including sexual violence -, extortion, exploitation and endangering vulnerable people’s lives. Migrants are often forced to travel in dehumanizing circumstances. The National Office and the KMar combat this form of serious organized crime in cooperation with (inter)national partners.