#EMPACTITALY – Police international cooperation in combating irregular migration: the Italian National Police presented a project at EUROPOL headquarters to prevent digital smuggling.
ROME – From 4 to 5 February, in The Hague, Netherlands, the Central Operational Service (SCO) of the Italian National Police presented a project aimed at preventing the misuse of social media by migrant smuggling networks to advertise dangerous irregular journeys, through desert routes and the Central Mediterranean, (so-called “digital smuggling”).
The project was presented during the kick-off meeting of the 2026–2027 EMPACT priority cycle on migrant smuggling.
EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) is an international security cooperation framework enabling EU Member States, third countries, international organisations and private partners to jointly identify and address threats posed by organised crime and other serious forms of international crime. Italy is involved in 152 of the 285 actions envisaged by the program and participates, under the coordination of the SCIP (Police Cooperation Service of the Department of Public Security of the Ministry of the Interior).
The initiative aims to share the Italian State Police’s operational experience in countering digital smuggling with European and non-European partners. Through a partnership with META and under the coordination of the competent Public Prosecutors’ Offices, the Central Operational Service identified and requested the takedown of more than 1,200 Facebook profiles, advertising transportation services to potential migrants, systematically downplaying the severe risks and travel conditions—often inhumane—as well as the risks of torture and kidnapping for the purpose of extortion.
Furthermore, Operational Action 2.4 “Central Med” seeks to consolidate operational efforts and expertise in this field, including through the involvement of countries of origin, in order to enhance information-sharing and capacity-building.