On 22 July 2025, the World Customs Organization (WCO) announced the release of “WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) Western Europe Annual report 2024 Review of drug seizures at European airports and mail centres”, written by RILO Western Europe analysts, which is the key product of a long-term collaboration between RILO Western Europe and the Council of Europe – Pompidou Airports Group.
This year’s report reveals the latest trends and practices of drug trafficking. It provides essential information for the daily work of LEA officials at airports/mail centres and intelligence hubs.
The analysis is based on the data from the WCO Customs Enforcement Network (CEN).
The Airports Group was founded in 1986. Its objectives are to develop a harmonised, multidisciplinary strategy for drug detection at international airports and in general aviation, as well as to enhance subject-related inter-airport cooperation.
The report is for official use only and can be requested at rilowe@zka.bund.de.
More information: https://www.coe.int/en/web/pompidou/activities/airports
Airports – General aviation – controlled deliveries airports
The Cooperation Group of Drug Control Services at European Airports and the Expert Group on General Aviation facilitate cooperation for law enforcement agencies to reduce illegal trafficking by sharing information on improving control, risk management, profiling, detection and investigative measures.
Airports group
The Cooperation Group of Drug Control Services at European Airports was founded in 1986. Its objectives are to develop a harmonised multidisciplinary strategy for drug detection at international airports and in general aviation, and to enhance subject-related inter-airports cooperation.
Main aims
- Develop an annual review of drug seizures in European Airports in cooperation with the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office of Western Europe (RILO/WE);
- Build a network of experts within drug control services in commercial aviation;
- Enhance the use of special law enforcement techniques and tools, such as the restricted Resource Bank on Controlled Deliveries;
- Follow up on new developments and trends in legislative initiatives at the national and international level;
- Analyse trafficking trends, routes, risks, seizures, modus operandi, etc.;
- Identify practical arrangements for cooperation among control and security services at international airports, including the private sector.
General aviation
Law enforcement and border officials are increasingly confronted with criminal groups that are using non-commercial flights and aircraft such as ultra-light aviation, private jets, helicopters, and drones to smuggle drugs and proceeds of crime worldwide. The overall aim of the Pompidou Group’s expert group is to reduce illegal trafficking through general aviation and to prevent the abuse of general aviation traffic through improved control, risk management, profiling, and detection and investigative measures.
European Handbook on General Aviation
This handbook has been developed through close cooperation between delegates from Pompidou Group member states and its partners for the benefit of law enforcement officers and first responders working in the field of general aviation. It was finalised in 2020 and has been distributed among the member states. The handbook outlines the legal framework, best practices, strategies, contact information, and guidelines for practitioners in the field of general aviation.
Please contact the Secretariat to request printed copies of the handbook.
Customs weekly list of unentered goods
On 21 July 2025, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) published its weekly list of unentered goods.
For ease of reference, the following supplementary information is provided:
State warehouses
The state provides state warehouses for the safekeeping of goods. These are managed by Customs. Their primary purpose is to secure the duty and Value-added Tax (VAT) due on undeclared, abandoned or seized goods. Declared goods detained provisionally for the correct tariff classification or without a permit are also stored in state warehouses.
Once the importer or owner of the goods has met all customs requirements, the goods may be released on receipt of state warehouse rent. Unclaimed goods may be sold by public auction after a prescribed period from the date on which the goods were placed in the state warehouse. The proceeds go towards covering duties, VAT or other expenses.
The list is accessible at:
www.sars.gov.za/ClientSegments/Customs-Excise/Pages/State-Warehouse.aspx