RISK INTELLIGENCE REPORTS 16th April 2025
Members are invited to consider the most recent Risk Intelligence reports provided at the annexes as follows:
· Annex A – Narcotics Smuggling Report for Q1 2025
· Annex B – Red Sea Updates
· Annex C – Northern Black Sea Updates
Annex A provides an overview of existing patterns and trends in the smuggling of drugs on ships, focusing on the period between 1 January and 31 March 2025. The amount of drug seizures is still increasing, following the trend from 2024, which has the potential to have a major impact on merchant ships’ timely completion of their routes and safety of their crew. Cargo vessels continue to account for the most drug seizures outside of the Americas, however the location of these seizures is diversifying. This is especially clear in Europe, where seizures incidents are spreading outside of traditional trafficking ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp and towards France and Spain.
Annex B details the current security situation in the Black Sea, which has remained stable since last week. Diplomatic efforts to secure the Black Sea are ongoing, commercial shipping security in the region will be the topic of a 22 April conference between the UK, France, and Turkey in Ankara. However, Russian officials have maintained that they do not see the benefits nor agree to the Black Sea ceasefire in its current 25 March iteration.
Annex C provides a security update on the Red Sea region, which has not significantly evolved over the past week. US strikes on Yemen have continued and the Houthis have continued to limit their retaliation to Israeli and American military targets, who constitute most of the maritime traffic in the region.
In accordance with the scope of the agreement between ICS and Risk Intelligence, members are requested not to circulate the report further in its entirety. Members may precis the report or use extracts from it to help advise members on key issues or to assist in enquiries. In such cases, Risk Intelligence should be acknowledged as the source of the information.
MC(25)60 -Annex A – RI Drug Trafficking Report – Q1 2025