On 29 September 2026, the Deputy Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Ricardo Trevino, met with heads of European police and Customs during the European Police Chiefs Convention (EPCC) at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. The meeting served as a platform to reaffirm cooperation between the two organisations in their efforts to bolster the fight against transnational organised crime and to agree on joint, coordinated activities in the months ahead.
The WCO and Europol have a long history of cooperation, especially in the fight against crime and other cross-border criminal activities. Under the cooperation agreement signed in 2002, the two organisations exchange information, consult on emerging issues and coordinate activities, recognising that Customs-Police cooperation is vital to address cross-border crime.
On the margins of the EPCC, the Deputy Secretary General of the WCO and Europol’s Deputy Executive Director of Operations held a bilateral meeting and signed an updated Action Plan, building on the existing Cooperation Agreement. During the meeting, they discussed continued cooperation and the importance of strengthening the relationship, with the updated action plan reflecting both organisations’ current operational realities and future priorities.
The Deputy Secretary General emphasised the value of cooperation between the WCO and Europol, including through initiatives such as Operation Global Gateway, aimed at monitoring the licit movement and countering the illicit trafficking and diversion of explosive precursor chemicals and other components of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and Operation STOP, aimed at combating breaches of intellectual property rights (IPR). By supporting the exchange of knowledge, know-how, data and intelligence between their members, the two organisations can enhance targeting capacities and their collective understanding of the emerging modus operandi used by criminals.
The WCO and Europol will continue working together on a range of initiatives, including joint operations and sharing practical tools to support Customs administrations across Europe and beyond. This cooperation combines Europol’s support to EU member states with WCO’s international reach across the Customs community, enabling law enforcement authorities worldwide to share information, coordinate enforcement activities and support the disruption of criminal networks. The updated action plan reinforces both organisations’ commitment to protecting society and ensuring safe, secure supply chains.