High-level meeting of Mediterranean police officials held in Larnaca

On June 4 and 5, Cyprus hosted a high-level meeting of Mediterranean police officials at the Lordos Beach Hotel in Larnaca. The event, organized by the Cyprus Police under the auspices of Europol, was initiated by Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis. Participants included representatives from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, Malta, and France, along with Europol’s Deputy Executive Director for Operations, Jean-Philippe Lecouffe. The primary objective was to strengthen cooperation between European Union member states to prevent and combat migrant smuggling via sea and land routes. Opening remarks were delivered by Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, the Chief of Cyprus Police, and a representative from the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection. The speakers emphasized the necessity of coordinated international cooperation and information sharing to disrupt criminal groups involved in human trafficking. During the sessions, attendees analyzed current trends, operational challenges regarding maritime migration routes, and evaluated ongoing joint enforcement actions.