Europol and US Navy and Marine Corps discuss cooperation on countering maritime piracy

Today Mr. Ray Mabus, U.S. Secretary of Navy (SECNAV), responsible for US Navy and Marine Corps, visited Europol’s Headquarters in The Hague and met with Europol Director, Rob Wainwright. 
 
Secretary Mabus and Director Wainwright exchanged views on the threats posed by maritime piracy for the global economy and the need to adopt a cohesive strategy grounded on a close collaboration between the military and law enforcement. They agreed that maritime piracy, in particular in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali Coast, is linked to international organised crime networks. In order to tackle such networks, it is essential to enhance the operational coordination between tactical maritime forces in charge of deterring piracy acts and those in charge of criminal investigations and prosecutions.
 
Europol works closely with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service of the U.S. Navy (NCIS) as well as with INTERPOL and the EU NAVFOR maritime mission via its member countries, in sharing criminal intelligence to identify and disrupt the criminal enterprises involved in maritime piracy. Europol's analysis of ongoing criminal investigations has led to a greater understanding of individual pirate operatives, their financiers and the facilitators of maritime piracy.
 
Director Wainwright and Secretary Mabus also discussed the fruitful crop.