IS in Italian Ports

Mostly unrecognized by the broader European audience, the recent report about the security of Italian sea ports in 2018 has been published in the framework of the research project "Italian Port Security". This report provides a sophisticated analysis of the impact of illegal transit of goods and persons into and through Italian ports in the recent months and years.

Besides the evaluation of the operational results by federal Italian prosecution authorities in the field of drug and arms smuggling across the western and eastern coasts of Italy, the consideration of illegal migration in connection with Islamist terror is strongly emphasized by the report. According to the research group, a significant number of the main perpetrators of recent Islamist assaults in Europe have entered the Schengen Area illegally via Italian ports. The terrorists linked to the "Islamic State" exploited systemic shortcomings of complex port operations and bypassed official controls on entry.

The revealing report also analyses weak points in existing port operations and concludes with an executive summary of recommended measures to improve the security in Italian ports.

Further information on the research project as well as the report and its recommendations are available on the website of the research group (in Italian language):

Report on Italian port security 2018

Executive Summary of recommended measures to improve the security of Italian ports