International Joint Team cooperation against serious migration crimes extended
On Wednesday 3th, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar) en the Netherlands National Public Prosecutor’s Office extended the cooperation agreement between law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities in Italy, Spain, UK (National Crime Agency) and the Netherland, 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 the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, 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 Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is 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 Marechaussee combats this form of serious organized crime in cooperation with (inter)national partners.