Organised crime groups are rapidly adapting their methods, expanding across borders and exploiting new routes and digital platforms in ways that increase the threat to citizens, economies and communities.
Recognising that organised crime operates across borders, the UK and the Netherlands are deepening joint operational cooperation and aligning policy efforts to
- Disruption of illicit finance
- Disruption of upstream cocaine flows Response to the threat posed by 3D printed firearms.
Progress Since the 2025 Dialogue
Since the 2025 UK–Netherlands SOC Dialogue, the partnership has delivered concrete results, with increased operational cooperation both domestically and internationally leading to multi-tonne cocaine seizures and greater strategic alignment to counter illicit finance threats. There has also been enhanced collaboration on managing serious and organised crime offenders in detention, supported by multiple expert exchanges throughout the year and culminating in a forthcoming visit by the UK Prison Minister to the Netherlands.
A Stronger, Unified Response
Following the Joint Statement on the UK–Netherlands Bilateral Security Partnership in December 2025, this year’s SOC Dialogue provides a key mechanism for delivering on the commitment to enhance diplomatic, law enforcement, and justice cooperation in the fight against serious organised crime.
One of the key focus points of this year’s dialogue was to strengthen action against the financial systems that enable criminal activity, including enhanced cooperation on crypto tracing, underground banking, asset recovery, and supporting the UK’s upcoming Illicit Finance Summit. The United Kingdom and the Netherlands reaffirmed their commitment to stopping cocaine upstream through information sharing, supply chain disruption, and joint engagement with source and transit countries, supporting the European Coalition Against Drugs of the European Political Community and the Accra Call to Action Dialogue with Western African countries.
Both countries further committed to deepening collaboration on 3D printed firearms threat, firearms trafficking through joint investigations, law enforcement cooperation, and information sharing.
Through this annual dialogue, both countries continue to build a stronger, more coordinated response to the threats posed by serious and organised crime.
