68% of the most threatening criminal networks operate globally, with 36% of these networks engaged in drug trafficking, according to a report from Europol. These networks launder the proceeds from their activities on a global scale, with 32% of networks laundering money in both the EU and abroad.

To dismantle these networks, international cooperation is essential. Eurojust supports national authorities in the EU to work together with third countries. The Working Arrangements with Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru will strengthen cooperation in the fight against organised crime and terrorism. A similar Working Arrangement with Panama, signed in January 2024, has already increased the use of Eurojust’s judicial cooperation tools by Panamanian authorities.

The EU Strategy to tackle Organised Crime highlights the importance of Eurojust’s cooperation beyond the European Union to disrupt global criminal networks and transport routes. At the signing of the working arrangements, European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, stated: ‘Today, we open a new chapter in the cooperation between the EU and six strategic partners in this field. By building on our shared values and common strategic interests, we can equip judicial authorities with the necessary instruments for safeguarding the rights of our citizens while enabling effective cooperation “on the ground”. I regard the conclusion of Working Arrangements with Eurojust as a milestone in this process. And I look forward to advancing our joint work to build a common response to organised crime.’

Eurojust president Ladislav Hamran said: ‘Drug trafficking is the most lucrative criminal activity in the EU, creating illicit market with yearly earnings of at least 31 billion euros. To mitigate and halt the enormous harm to societies and individuals in both the European Union and Latin America, our response needs to be effective and collaborative. It is essential for prosecutors from Europe and Latin America to unite and devise strategies for closer cooperation, enabling us to not only disrupt criminal networks but also hold them accountable in court. I am honoured for Eurojust to serve as a platform to build this architecture, and I look forward to putting in practice the Working Arrangements Eurojust is signing with the prosecution authorities from Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru following the Working Arrangement we signed with Panama in January 2024.’

The Working Arrangements will strengthen cooperation in crime areas that affect both the EU and Latin American countries, such as drug and arms trafficking, money laundering and cybercrime. It is vital that judicial authorities work together to combat the growing problem of drug trafficking, especially by dismantling the transport routes that allow large quantities of drugs to enter the EU via its ports. With the support of Eurojust, EUR 25.6 billion worth of drugs were seized in 2023, more than double the amount of 2022.

In a joint declaration, the prosecutors generals from Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Peru, expressed their concern about the impact of organised criminal groups on the security, economy and well-being of their citizens. To strengthen the joint judicial response to organised crime, they are committed to implementing the working arrangements with the crucial support of the EL PACCTO 2.0, the EU cooperation programme aimed to strengthen the EU-LAC partnership in the fields of justice and security to combat transnational organized crime. The working arrangements reflects the commitment of both regions to address the challenges posed by criminal networks that operate across borders.

The prosecutors generals will also work towards the conclusion of International Agreements with Eurojust, representing the next step in the cooperation process.

More information on Eurojust’s international cooperation can be found in the FAQ on third countries.

Video statements by the prosecutors generals of Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Peru, as well as the Eurojust president, can be found on YouTube.