Transatlantic cocaine trafficking route by air and sea halted: 23 arrests

Source: Eurojust

Following the arrest of two members of an Italian mafia family in Brazil in 2019, investigations were launched into the links between Brazilian and Italian criminal groups. The investigations revealed strong ties between the Italian mafia and Brazilian criminal organisations involved in coordinating cocaine shipments to Europe from the Port of Paranaguá. Throughout the investigations, authorities documented over 1 500 kg cocaine trafficked to Europe.

The international criminal group linked to the ‘Ndrangheta in Piedmont concealed the cocaine shipments in cargo ships destined for various European ports. Drugs were also transported by air in private aircraft. Their activities generated huge profits for the criminal organisation. The multi-million euro profits were laundered through an intricate network of individuals and companies.

Italian and Brazilian authorities worked together on the complex investigation through a joint investigation team (JIT) set up at Eurojust in 2020. The JIT allowed the authorities to exchange information in real time and plan the arrests and searches, which took place simultaneously in Brazil and Italy. Europol supported the investigation by coordinating the exchange of information between EU Member States and Brazil, and providing EU authorities with intelligence packages. These files allowed affected countries to finalise their investigations. Before the action day, Europol welcomed two Brazilian experts to its headquarters in The Hague, who worked hand-in-hand with affected EU Member States.

The four-year investigation culminated in a large-scale operation on 10 December in Italy and Brazil. Italian and Brazilian authorities disrupted the activities of the criminal groups by arresting 23 suspects, 5 in Italy and 18 in Brazil. Searches were carried out at several addresses across Brazil.

The following authorities were involved in the actions:

Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Turin – District Antimafia Directorate; Italian National Antimafia Prosecutor’s Office; Carabinieri of the ROS (Special Operational Group) and of the Provincial Command of Turin; Italian Central Anti-Drug Directorate

Brazil: Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office of Brazil; Federal Police of Brazil through the Special Group for Sensitive Investigations of Paraná; Federal Police of the State of Paraíba, Authotities of the States of Curitiba and Joao Pessoa

 

Mr José de la Mata Amaya elected new Vice-President of Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

Commenting on his election by his fellow National Members in the College of Eurojust, Mr de la Mata said: It is a great privilege and responsibility to be elected by my peers as Vice-President of Eurojust. It will be an honour to lead together the collegial work of the Agency over the next four years. Our Agency will continue to collaborate with the judicial authorities of Member States, the European institutions and other agencies in the fight against criminal networks, which are increasingly operating on a global scale. We will also continue to develop our relations with international organisations, regional networks and judicial partners outside the EU. Through this coordinated approach, we will contribute to the common objective of guaranteeing our fellow citizens effective justice after due process, in an environment that enables security and allows the development of rights and freedoms for all.

The new Vice-President of Eurojust is a Spanish judge. He started working for the judiciary in 1987 as an investigative judge in Algeciras and Cádiz and as a judge in criminal trials in Las Palmas. He later served as a judge in the Court of Appeals of Las Palmas and Madrid, and in the High Court of Justice in Madrid. From 2015 until becoming National Member for Spain at Eurojust in December 2020, Mr de la Mata served as judge at the Central Investigative Court No 5 of the National Court.

Furthermore, Mr de la Mata worked at the Spanish General Council of the Judiciary from 1993 to 2001, as Director of the Department for Continuing Training of Judges and later as Director of the International Relations Department. From 2003 to 2009, he was Legal Advisor at the Constitutional Court, and between 2009 and 2011 Director General of Modernisation at the Spanish Ministry of Justice and Secretary-General of the Administration of Justice.

The new Vice-President has been Contact Point for Spain in the Network of National Experts on joint investigation teams and is Contact Point for Spain in the European Judicial Network. He speaks Spanish and English.

Mr de la Mata replaces the National Member for Slovenia Mr Boštjan Škrlec, who decided not to run for a second mandate. The two Vice-Presidents of the Agency carry out duties entrusted to them by the President of the Agency and represent or replace him.

As a new Vice-President, Mr de la Mata will also be a member of the Executive Board of Eurojust, which assists the College of the Agency in its management functions and oversees the preparatory work of the Administrative Director, Mr Vincent Jamin. The College is the final body responsible for the organisation and operation of Eurojust, consisting of all National Members and a representative of the European Commission, with the exception of Denmark.

Action against ‘phone phishing’ gang in Belgium and the Netherlands: eight arrests

Source: Eurojust

In a concerted operation, Belgian and Dutch authorities have cracked down on an internationally operating ‘phone phishing’ gang, leading to the arrest of eight suspects. In addition to ‘phishing’, or trying to gain access to bank or financial data by phone or online, the suspects also visited mainly elderly victims at their homes, pretending to be bank employees or police officers. Eurojust and Europol coordinated and supported the actions in Belgium and the Netherlands, where 17 places were also searched.

Most of the fraudulent activities took place in Belgium, but the organised crime group (OCG) behind the scam operated mainly from Rotterdam and other cities in the Netherlands. This week’s arrests have led to the apprehension of the alleged leaders of the OCG, though the investigations into the fraud continue. The fraudsters allegedly scammed victims out of at least several million euros. 

At the request of the Belgian Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO), Eurojust became involved in the case in November 2022. Subsequently Belgian investigative judges also asked for the support of Eurojust, which organised eight coordination meetings to enable the cooperation with the Dutch authorities and support the operation against the OCG. 

Throughout the investigation, Europol brought together all partners to facilitate effective coordination and the exchange of information between Member States. Europol experts also provided national authorities with analytical and financial support. 

Prevention

Authorities in both countries are warning customers to exercise caution with online transactions and not to trust phone calls allegedly made by banking staff. Citizens are advised to be cautious on the following points:

  • Do not trust mails claiming to come from banks that state you urgently need to update your account. 
  • Do not trust messages claiming that your phone account has been locked and needs updating.
  • Be careful when buying goods via secondhand sites if sellers ask for an initial payment of EUR 0.01.
  • Do not provide account details, PIN numbers or other financial information over the phone, even if the caller claims to be a bank employee.
  • Do not trust phone calls or messages that say you have won a phone or another item but ask you to pay a small amount up front.
  • Check URL links sent to you and make sure they start with ‘https://’.
  • Beware of links that redirect you to a fake bank site. These may look similar to your bank’s website, but cannot be trusted. 
  • Do not give any information to individuals claiming to be bank employees who visit your home. 
  • Criminal groups often ask young people to lend their phone cards or bank accounts for seemingly harmless transactions. The police strongly advises people against this, as it may make them an accomplice to criminal activities. 

This week’s operation was carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

  • Belgium: Federal PPO (Federaal Parket); Investigating Judge Court of First Instance Antwerp, section Mechelen (Onderzoeksrechter van Rechtbank van Eerste Aanleg Antwerpen, sectie Mechelen); Federal Judicial Police East Flanders (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie Oost-Vlaanderen)
  • The Netherlands: PPO Rotterdam (Openbaar Ministerie Rotterdam); National Police (Nationale Politie – Eenheid Rotterdam) 

Authorities disrupt migrant smuggling supply chain

Source: Eurojust

French and German authorities, supported by Eurojust and Europol, have rolled up a criminal network responsible for transporting equipment used to smuggle migrants to the United Kingdom. An international operation took place on 4 December where five suspects were arrested in France and eight suspects were arrested in Germany.

Investigations into the criminal network uncovered a sophisticated operation across multiple countries. Nautical equipment such as inflatable boats, life vests and engines was purchased in Turkey and then taken to a warehouse in Germany. Human smugglers then picked up the equipment from the warehouse to take it to the coast of northern France. From there, the smugglers used low-quality inflatable boats to smuggle migrants over the Channel to the United Kingdom.

Yesterday’s operation follows a cross-border investigation between French and German authorities, coordinated by Eurojust and Europol. French authorities became aware of the network’s activities and found that most of the suspects to be living Germany. At Eurojust, the authorities worked together to define a strategy to take down the network and arrest the suspects. Law enforcement agencies from France and Germany worked together on this operation through a dedicated Europol Operational Taskforce. A coordination centre at Eurojust on 4 December ensured that authorities were able to cooperate in real time while actions were executed.

Over 500 German officers were deployed in the early hours of 4 December to take down the criminal network and execute European Arrest Warrants and European Investigation Orders from France. During the operations on 4 December, 13 suspects were arrested, including a High Value Target. Authorities searched 15 homes and 10 warehouses in Germany. They were able to seize supplies such as inflatable boats, flotation devices for children, air pumps and engines, as well as electronic devices, arms and cash.

The following authorities were involved in the actions:

  • France: JIRS Lille (Interregional Specialised Jurisdiction) – Court of Lille; French Border Police
  • Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office Düsseldorf; German Federal Police

 

Drug trafficking gang tackled in Germany and Serbia: ten arrests

Source: Eurojust

The OCG had allegedly been importing illicit drugs from the Netherlands to the Rhine-Main area since 2022, using several locations such as cafés as front stores for its illegal activities. The drugs were transported to these locations in cars with hidden compartments for further distribution by couriers to Serbia, but also other EU Member States and third countries.

Among the arrested suspects are the alleged ringleaders, couriers and street dealers. The Serbian part of the network operated from a café in Sremska Mitrovica. Investigations into the OCG are ongoing and an adequate estimate of the proceeds cannot be given at this stage.

Investigations into the OCG were initiated in Serbia also in 2022, showing links between the two countries involved in today’s operation. Eurojust assisted with the financing and setting up of the JIT in August this year and organised four coordination meetings to prepare for the joint actions in Germany and Serbia. 

Furthermore, the Agency supported the execution of requests for Mutual Legal Assistance between Serbia and Germany. Serbia is one of the 12 countries outside the EU that have a Liaison Prosecutor based at Eurojust in The Hague*. During the action day, close to 400 police officers were deployed in Germany and Serbia. 

Furthermore, six kilos of cocaine, several vehicles, weapons, ammunition and luxury watches were seized, as well as at least EUR 60 000 in cash, a device to detect intercepted communications and various mobile phones and laptops.  

The actions of this week were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

  • Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) (Staatsanwaltschaft) Wiesbaden; Regional Criminal Police of Hesse (Landeskriminalamt Hessen), Wiesbaden
  • Serbia: PPO for Organised Crime; Ministry of Interior Affairs, Service for Combating Organised Crime 

*The other countries outside the EU with Liaison Prosecutors at Eurojust are: Albania, Georgia, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States

Eurojust Annual Meeting on Counter-Terrorism: tackling the multifaceted terrorist threat

Source: Eurojust

28 November 2024|

On 27 and 28 November, Eurojust hosted its annual counter-terrorism meeting, which gathered specialised prosecutors and other experts from EU Member States and third countries, as well as representatives from EU institutions, to discuss the latest challenges and share best practices in combatting terrorist threats.

The meeting was opened by Mr Michael Schmid, Eurojust President, and Mr Baudoin Thouvenot, National Member for France and Chair of the Eurojust Counter-Terrorism Team. Mr Bartjan Wegter, the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator (EU CTC), and representatives from the European Commission highlighted that counter-terrorism is a standing priority for the EU and presented key relevant policy and legislative developments on this issue. In a context where the terrorist threat is increasingly complex and multifaceted, participants also discussed the scope of terrorism and the acts that may lead to it.  

On the second day, the meeting enabled attendees to share views, experiences and practical examples on how to tackle a range of terrorism related challenges, particularly those linked to propaganda, radicalisation and the growing role played by minors.

On the margins of the meeting, President Schmid and Mr Thouvenot met with Mr Wegter to discuss ongoing and future cooperation.

Out now: SIRIUS Electronic Evidence Situation Report 2024

Source: Eurojust

While new legislative initiatives such as the EU Digital Services Act, the EU Electronic Evidence legislative package and the Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime signal progress, the process of accessing cross-border digital evidence across borders remains complex. Judicial cooperation remains slow and cumbersome, while voluntary cooperation with service providers, though faster, lacks legal certainty.

From the perspective of law enforcement, Single Points of Contact (SPoCs) continue to play a crucial role in improving compliance rates with requests for data and facilitating faster exchanges. The report also highlights the growing importance of training for EU law enforcement on electronic evidence, though structural challenges remain, particularly around lengthy judicial cooperation processes and fragmented company policies.

For judicial authorities, the introduction of the EU Electronic Evidence legislative package is expected to provide more efficient tools for cross-border data access, enhancing their ability to gather and retain vital electronic evidence. However, concerns persist over the lack of an EU-wide data retention framework, which could lead to the loss of critical information needed for investigations.

The report also includes the perspective of service providers, who have seen an increase in data requests but note improvements in public-private cooperation. Key challenges, such as overly broad data requests and misunderstandings about their services, are highlighted as issues that can be addressed through better communication and educational efforts. Service providers, in particular, are focused on and eagerly welcome the upcoming implementation of new EU laws.

In light of these findings, the report concludes offering key recommendations for stakeholders, urging EU law enforcement and judicial authorities to enhance training and prepare for upcoming legislative changes. Service providers are encouraged to engage proactively with the SIRIUS Project and prepare for compliance with the new regulations.

The 2024 EU Electronic Evidence Situation Report, based on direct exchanges with key stakeholders, serves as an essential resource for all stakeholders, public and private, navigating the evolving landscape of cross-border access to electronic evidence in the EU. Building on its existing expertise, the SIRIUS Project will continue to support the daily efforts of law enforcement, judicial authorities, and service providers during its third phase, set to begin next year, while also keeping policymakers informed about the persistent challenges they face.

Crackdown on illegal streaming network with 22 million users worldwide

Source: Eurojust

Authorities have struck a blow at illegal streaming networks, by shutting down one of the world’s largest illegal service. Eurojust and Europol supported the operation, which involved cooperation between Italian, Croatian, Dutch, Romanian, Swedish, Swiss and UK authorities. In a large-scale operation, over 100 searches were carried out against 102 suspects. Eleven suspects are arrested in Croatia.

The suspects illegally distributed material from streaming services online, including films and series. They also pirated more than 2 500 television channels such as sports channels. The illegal service served more than 22 million users worldwide. They were able to make over EUR 250 million in illegal profits per month. The economic damages to the copyright holders of the material is estimated at EUR 10 billion. 

To evade authorities, the suspects allegedly used encrypted messaging services to communicate and false identities to register phone numbers, credit cards, server rentals and television subscriptions. On 26 November, during an international operation, the servers hosting the illegal streaming were seized and shut down, disrupting the services.

Collaboration between authorities was set up at Eurojust to take down the streaming service. Coordination meetings at Eurojust’s headquarters allowed authorities from Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to work together on the investigation and plan the operation to shut down the service and arrest the suspects. Europol supported the operation by deploying experts and analysing the available intelligence during the investigation phase. 

The cooperation between the authorities culminated in a joint operation to take down the services on 26 November. During searches in Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, Croatia, the United Kingdom and China, over EUR 1.6 million in cryptocurrency and EUR 40 000 in cash was seized. Croatian police arrested 11 suspects. 

The authorities involved in the actions were:

  • Italy: Public Prosecution Office Catania
  • Croatia: The Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime 
  • Netherlands: Fiscal Information and Investigation Service; Public Prosecution Service Rotterdam 
  • Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism; Direction for Fighting Organized Crime – Cyber Crime Fighting Service
  • Sweden: National unit against organized crime at the Swedish Prosecution Authority; Swedish Police Authority
  • Switzerland: Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland; Federal Office of Police 
  • United Kingdom: City of London Police

Unaccompanied minors and challenges in the digital domain on agenda at annual meeting on migrant smuggling

Source: Eurojust

Migrant smuggling is a lucrative global crime that prioritises profits over human life, posing a significant threat to the EU’s internal security. Transnational organised crime groups frequently prey on vulnerable migrants, subjecting them to violence, abuse, exploitation, and even death, as they seek to maximise their gains. 

Smugglers also increasingly use digital services and tools, such as social media, online platforms and mobile applications, for recruitment, advertising their services, communication and money transfers. This digital dimension of migrant smuggling investigations has a significant impact on judicial proceedings and presents new challenges to prosecution. During the meeting, Eurojust presented a new leaflet outlining the resources available at the Agency to fight migrant smuggling in the digital domain. The digitalisation of migrant smuggling is also one of the priority work strands under the European Commission’s flagship initiative, the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling

The meeting included participants from across the EU Member States and third countries, including the Western Balkans and EuroMed Justice partner countries. It featured three sessions, including discussions on unaccompanied minors as migrants, migrant smuggling in the digital domain, and country updates on trends and developments in the participants’ countries. 

Eurojust has been actively involved in the fight against migrant smuggling, coordinating 425 cases in 2023. The Agency provides operational support to national authorities through all stages of the proceedings, from when a case is opened by an EU Member State until justice is served in court.

To strengthen its work in this field, Eurojust also supports a Focus Group of prosecutors and investigative judges fighting migrant smuggling, which consists of specialised prosecutors from all EU Member States and some non-EU States. The Focus Group serves as an important hub to regularly connect key judicial actors at national level in the EU Member States who are responsible for tackling migrant smuggling crimes, and to support their joint operational response. Members of the Focus Group convene once at year at the Eurojust annual meeting.

Action against criminal network smuggling Syrian migrants via Balkan route: 29 arrests

Source: Eurojust

Eurojust and Europol have assisted the German authorities with the coordinated takedown of a smuggling network, which was illegally transporting Syrian migrants via the Balkan route. In total, 29 suspects involved in the smuggling of at least 750 migrants to Germany and the United Kingdom were arrested. Twenty arrests were made yesterday during a coordinated action. Last month, the Serbian authorities already arrested and charged nine suspects involved in the same organised crime group (OCG).

Eurojust also supported Germany, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia in setting up and financing a joint investigation team (JIT), in operational partnership with Austria, to investigate the criminal network.

Migrants paid between EUR 4 500 and EUR 12 000 per person to be transported irregularly to Europe by the OCG. At this stage, it is difficult to make an adequate assessment of the OCG’s overall profits.

The network arranged the further transport of Syrian migrants who had arrived on European shores mainly via the Balkan route, through Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, Czechia and Austria. On some journeys, around one hundred Syrian migrants were transported to their final destinations in Germany and the United Kingdom at the same time. The transports to the United Kingdom took place via the Netherlands, using different types of vehicles. Routes were often changed to avoid detection by law enforcement.

During the action day, 25 places were searched and vehicles, cash, various communication devices and data carriers were seized. More than 450 police officers were deployed in the countries involved as part of the operation.

The investigations into the OCG was initiated in May 2022 by the German Public Prosecution Office (PPO) of Traunstein. In 2023, the German authorities requested Eurojust to facilitate contacts with all the other countries involved and assist in setting up the JIT.

The Agency also organised a coordination centre on its premises to support the action day and direct contacts between all authorities on the ground. In preparation, Eurojust organised four coordination meetings and assisted with the execution of European Investigation Orders and requests for Mutual Legal Assistance to the non-EU countries involved.

Europol established an Operational Taskforce in collaboration with Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and other European countries. The information exchanged within this taskforce revealed the dynamic operations of the criminal network under investigation. Europol’s experts analysed this information, and the international exchange helped to clarify the structure of the criminal activities and identify the actors involved in the smuggling and the financial activities linked to the network.

The operations on the ground were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

  • Germany: PPO Traunstein; Federal Police District Office for Crime Control Munich
  • Austria: PPO Vienna; Criminal Intelligence Service Austria; State Criminal Police Burgenland
  • The Netherlands: PPO Oost-Brabant
  • Poland: Circuit Prosecutor’s Office Białystok; Border Guard
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina: Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina; State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA)
  • Serbia: Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime; Service for Combating Organized Crime
  • United Kingdom: National Crime Agency (NCA)