In Hamburg, a new facility for safeguarding ports was inaugurated.

Domestic safety measures - In Hamburg, a new facility for safeguarding ports was inaugurated.

To tackle worldwide drug trafficking, a new protection hub has initiated its operations at the Hamburg Port. Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD) unveiled the Port Security Center (HSZ) on Friday jointly with police, customs, and Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) officials, as per the Senate's declaration. The primary aim of the HSZ is to stimulate communication and collaboration among the stakeholders.

The decision to set up the HSZ was reached during the Hamburg Port Security Conference in October 2023. As mentioned by Police President Falk Schnabel, a sequence of robberies at a terminal over the summer revealed that drug traffickers are eyeing the port.

The magnitude of the port, with its multiple workplaces and large number of employees, presented organized criminals with entryways to carry out their illegal activities, asserted the deputy chairperson of the Police Union, Michael Mertens.

Achieving security requires cooperation from all the participating parties, insisted HPA Managing Director Jens Meier. Along with police, customs, and HPA, the Federal Criminal Police Office and Hamburg's Interior Department and Public Prosecutor's Office are also involved in this partnership.

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1. Despite Hamburg's prominent role as a European transportation hub, such as its bustling Port of Hamburg, it has become a target for drug-related crime, with organized criminals leveraging the port's size and numerous workplaces.
2. The SPD's Interior Senator, Andy Grote, recognized the need for enhanced internal security measures and coordinated the establishment of the Port Security Center (HSZ) in Hamburg, a move aimed at combating drug-related crime and ensuring the port's safety.
3. The Port of Hamburg, a major gateway for trade and commerce within Europe, has been under increased scrutiny, with local authorities and political figures like Grote calling on law enforcement agencies such as the police and customs to strengthen their presence and cooperation to combat and prevent drug-related crime.
4. In an effort to bolster Hamburg's internal security, the Police, alongside its partners such as customs and the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), has bolstered its presence in the Port of Hamburg, with Senator Grote emphasizing that the HSZ will serve as a central point for coordinating efforts against drug-related crime and preserving the city's status as a vital European transportation hub.

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