The Italian Arma Dei Carabinieri, leader of a consortium of four partners including SAFE (Security and Freedom for Europe), Garda Nationala de Mediu (Romanian National Environment Guard) Iekslietu Ministrijas Valsts Policija (State Police of the Republic of Latvia) has been awarded the project OPFA Waste – Operational Facility for fighting illicit waste trafficking – funded by the EU Commission, DG Home, in the scope of the ISF – Police Action Grant. The 607.141€ project officially started on February 3rd, 2020 and will run for a total of 24 months.
In line with the EU policy cycle 2018-2021, the OPFA Waste project aims at fostering international police cooperation and setting harmonised investigation methodologies in the field of Illicit Waste Trafficking (IWT).
During the two years of implementation this flagship initiative will provide hands-on support through an innovative Operational Facility (OPFA), targeting ongoing trans-national IWT police operations.
OPFA will make available to partners, EU MSs and third Countries financial resources to achieve tangible results in criminal investigations, while developing a harmonized methodology for Law Enforcement practitioners on IWT at EU level.
Based on the assessment that enhancing police cooperation as well as empowering data sharing/analysis are imperative needs, OPFA Waste aims at fostering ongoing international police cooperation and joint investigative activities of specialized EU law enforcement agencies in the field of IWT, with particular attention to hazardous waste, enhancing their effectiveness.
Europol role as facilitator and the use of SIENA as information exchange channel will play a key role in promoting high level thematic exchanges on specific needs supporting criminal investigations.
For more info visit our website at www.opfawaste-project.eu or head over to our Twitter Account @opfawaste!!
If you are interested in discovering if you are eligible to receive OPFA waste support or in joining efforts, please email info@opfawaste-project.eu