An international operation aimed at strengthening passenger controls at a number of seaports and airports linking North Africa to Southern Europe has yielded 29 arrests for a variety of offences, including one on terrorism charges.

The individual concerned, arrested in Algeria, was subject to an INTERPOL Red Notice for terrorism activities. An additional 24 terrorism-related hits based on checks in INTERPOL and national law enforcement databases were identified throughout the operation. The operation, code-named Neptune III, also saw seizures of illicit drugs, luxury vehicles, firearms, and cash.

Led by INTERPOL with the support of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Frontex, Neptune III involved law enforcement in five countries – Algeria, France, Italy, Spain, and Tunisia – and was carried out during the summer 2021 tourist season.

INTERPOL deployed officers to assist local authorities in screening travellers, cross-checking their data against INTERPOL and national databases. The WCO deployed two officers in Italy and France to assist local Custom services, collected information on all Customs seizures, and ensured that data were effectively shared between Customs services through its secure communication platform, CENcomm. Frontex, the European Union’s Border, and Coast Guard Agency deployed officers in Italy and France to assist local authorities in profiling passengers, identifying document fraud, and detecting illicit activities.

Alarming results

Tens of thousands of vehicles and passengers cross international borders via maritime routes every year. Traffickers and terrorists regularly take these routes, compromising regional security across Europe and Africa. Operation Neptune III produced the following results:

• Arrests: 29 individuals were arrested on charges of terrorism, drug trafficking, vehicle theft, crimes against children, sexual violence, fraud, and human trafficking, among other crimes.
• Seizures:
  • 17.5 kg of cocaine, with an estimated street value of EUR 1.2 million;
  • More than 20,000 ecstasy pills;
  • 189 kg of tobacco products;
  • Five vehicles (three luxury cars and two motorcycles);
  • One handgun and 29 hunting rifles;
  • Over EUR 260,000 in cash.

Sharing information to save lives

INTERPOL’s databases contain details of around 135,000 individuals suspected of terrorist activity, making the Organization the largest repository of such information. Data are collected from and shared with law enforcement in INTERPOL’s 194 member countries..

Operation Neptune III saw officers from participating member countries conduct systematic screenings of individuals and their passports at selected seaports and maritime operational zones.

Terrorism and organized crime are often transnational by nature, making cross-border information sharing between law enforcement agencies critical to ensuring front-line border officers can screen individuals using the most complete information available. While the screening of passengers constitutes a routine procedure, the potential consequences of border officers’ decisions can sometimes be a matter of life and death.

Hunting rifles bound for Tunisia

Customs administrations participating in the operation strengthened controls on passengers and their belongings, targeting especially the smuggling of currency and weapons. They shared information with each other on any seizures made during inspections of passenger baggage, vessels, and vehicles.

The Tunisia Customs Service seized 29 hunting rifles that had been concealed inside a vehicle that had departed from Genoa, Italy, on a ferry bound for Zarzis, on Tunisia’s southeastern coast. Italian Customs and the Guardia di Finanza made numerous seizures of tobacco products, stolen electronic goods, and over 2,000 items of counterfeit designer clothing, while French Customs seized 93 kg of tobacco from a single individual.

Operation Neptune was supported by funding from the INTERPOL Foundation for a Safer World and by the WCO.

Parallel WCO-led operation

In parallel to NEPTUNE III and with similar objectives, a special operation, involving the Spanish Guardia Civil and the Moroccan Customs Service only, was organized by the WCO at the Moroccan ports of Nador and Tanger Med and at the international airports of Madrid and Barcelona.

The passenger and cargo inspections conducted by the Guardia Civil of Spain resulted in the identification of seven individuals of interest and in the seizure of jewelry from one passenger, with an estimated total value of 21,540 EUR. The Moroccan Customs Service seized more than 200,000 EUR in undeclared currency, including 96,480.00 EUR that one passenger attempted to smuggle from Morocco to Europe. The Administration also seized more than 1 kg of cocaine and 267 kg of cannabis.