Gardaí, Colombian police sign drug trafficking agreement

Ireland’s An Garda Síochána and Colombia’s national police have formalised their cooperation against organised crime and international drug trafficking through a new memorandum of understanding.

Gardaí said the agreement builds on existing cooperation and will strengthen information sharing, operational collaboration, training opportunities and the exchange of best practice. The two forces have already conducted reciprocal visits by senior officers, which Gardaí said helped develop a shared understanding of the challenges posed by organised crime groups operating across borders.

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By strengthening operational cooperation and facilitating the exchange of intelligence, both organisations aim to enhance their effectiveness in targeting those responsible for the importation and distribution of illicit drugs and other forms of serious organised crime.

The agreement is intended to improve efforts to identify and disrupt those responsible for importing and distributing illicit drugs, as well as other serious organised crime. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described it as another step toward disrupting, degrading and dismantling transnational criminal groups.

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An Garda Síochána is determined to play our part internationally in combatting the deadly and harmful impacts that transnational organised crime groups inflict on communities.

“An Garda Síochána is determined to play our part internationally in combatting the deadly and harmful impacts that transnational organised crime groups inflict on communities,” Mr Kelly said. He also pointed to the force’s network of international Garda Liaison Officers, which he said strengthens ties with law enforcement agencies abroad and locally.

Colombia’s Director General of National Police, General William Oswaldo Rincón, said the memorandum would enable the exchange of criminal intelligence on transnational crime and serious offences affecting both countries. He said it activates direct police communication channels for the real-time exchange of strategic, technical and scientific data, while excluding national security matters. The agreement also includes joint training, citizen security projects supported by digital technology and the use of global best practices in combating corruption.

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This historic agreement entails the activation of direct police communication channels that will allow for the real-time sharing of strategic, technical and scientific data, excluding matters of national security.