Eurojust supported this international operation, which hit a notorious mafia organisation. Investigations into the criminal organisation uncovered an elaborate scheme that was laundering money from Italy to Brazil, through several companies. The operation on 7 October led to the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of nine companies in Italy, Hong Kong and Brazil.
The suspects arrested today were involved in the mafia organisation and used extortion, money laundering and the fraudulent transfer of valuables to facilitate important mafia organisations. The main suspect in the scheme set up multiple companies in Brazil using straw men and shell companies. The companies were used to hide the criminal gains of mafia organisations from Italy.
The investigations revealed that other companies active in the property and hospitality sectors in Italy, Hong Kong and Brazil were part of this elaborate money-laundering scheme. During the operation, nine companies were seized, as well as money worth EUR 350 000.
The operation on 7 October is the second action from a joint investigation team (JIT) set up at Eurojust between Italian and Brazilian authorities. The JIT has been investigating the mafia organisation since 2022. The first operation took place on 13 August and led to the arrest of a member of a mafia family and the freezing of assets worth EUR 50 million.
The Italian and Brazilian authorities have been investigating the activities of the mafia organisation since 2022 through a JIT, set up with the support of Eurojust. Their investigations uncovered the activities of the organisation in Switzerland and Hong Kong.
The following authorities were involved in the actions:
Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Palermo – District Antimafia Directorate; Guardia di Finanza – G.I.C.O. (Organized Crime Investigative Group) of Palermo
Brazil: Federal Prosecutor’s Office of Rio Grande do Norte
On 25-26 September, Eurojust and the Council of Europe co-hosted a workshop on the spontaneous exchange of information obtained during criminal investigations. More than 70 participants from approximately 40 countries joined the annual event, which took place at Eurojust’s headquarters.
Often, in cybercrime investigations authorities obtain valuable information that may assist another country in its criminal proceedings. Parties to the Council of Europe’s Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) may spontaneously share information on the basis of Article 26, and there are a variety of ways of doing this in practice. During the two-day workshop, participants had lively debates on the practical use of Article 26 in various jurisdictions, which included sharing interpretations and applications based on national contexts.
The often borderless nature of cyber- and cyber-related crime makes effective cross-border cooperation essential to investigate and prosecute perpetrators. Participants of the event stressed the use of existing legal frameworks and channels to enhance cooperation in this crime area.
The outcomes of this workshop will also feed into the development of a Guidance Note on spontaneous information by the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY).
A large-scale cocaine-smuggling ring was dismantled by authorities in Italy, Albania, Poland and Switzerland, coordinated by Eurojust. During an action day, a total of 45 suspects were arrested, most of them in Italy. Prior to the action day, 21 suspects involved in the sale of cocaine in and around the city of Brescia were arrested. In total, 66 arrests were made. The Albanian-led organised crime group (OCG) had been selling cocaine from Latin America for at least four years, mainly in the north of Italy.
Eurojust set up a coordination centre this week to support and coordinate the actions of all authorities involved. During the investigations and the action day, for an estimated amount of EUR 4 million in cash was seized, as well as 360 kilograms of cocaine, luxury vehicles and watches, telecommunications equipment, arms and ammunition.
Investigations into the drug-smuggling network started in 2020 at the request of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) of Brescia. The OCG used five warehouses and storage centres in and around Brescia to distribute the cocaine.
Credits: Guardia di Finanza di Brecia
The suspects laundered their illegal profits via an extensive network of enterprises run by an Italian-Chinese organisation set up for this purpose, which supplied fake invoices with a total value of around EUR 375 million. The OCG members will be charged with the trafficking of illicit drugs, money laundering and investment fraud.
During this week’s action day, over 400 officers were deployed across Italy. To assist the authorities on the ground, Eurojust set up a coordination centre at its premises in The Hague and supported the execution of European Arrest Warrants and requests for Mutual Legal Assistance towards Albania and Switzerland. Europol facilitated the exchange of information between the involved countries and provided operational coordination as well as analytical support. On the action day, a Europol analyst with a mobile office was deployed to cross-check information on the spot in Italy.
The operations were carried out at the request of the PPO of Brescia via the following authorities:
Italy: PPO Brescia; Anti-Mafia District Directorate of the Guardia di Finanza – Provincial Command of Brescia; Central Investigation Service for Organised Crime (SCICO), Rome; International Police Cooperation Service Liaison Bureau, Tirana
Poland: PPO Warsaw; Central Police Bureau of Investigations
Albania: Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK); Albanian State Police
Switzerland: Office of Attorney-General; Federal Police (Fedpol)
German and Italian authorities worked together with Eurojust and Europol to stop a fraudulent scheme. The suspects targeted public institutions, cities, and municipalities, and were able to cause damages of several million euros. On 24 September, an operation took place where technology and assets were seized and search warrants against five suspects were executed.
For over a year, suspects ran a fraudulent scheme in Germany that made them millions. Several public institutions, companies, cities, and municipalities were affected by the scheme. By using phishing techniques, the suspects gained access to real invoices that were addressed to public institutions and companies. The fraudsters manipulated them with their own financial information. The manipulated invoices were then sent to victims, who paid them to the fraudsters instead of their business partners.
Investigations into the scheme identified five suspects with Italian and German citizenship. As authorities needed to search properties in Germany and Italy, a cross-border case was opened at Eurojust. Coordination through Eurojust defined the strategy of the investigation between the German and Italian authorities. Authorities decided to execute simultaneous searches in the two countries to gather evidence of the fraud and seize assets that were gained through the fraudulent scheme. Europol provided continuous intelligence development to map out the different targets and their criminal activity.
On 24 September, search warrants against five suspects were executed in Germany and Italy and ten propereties were searched. During the operation, Europol activated a Virtual Command Post to provide support from its headquarters to the investigators on the field as they carried out their enforcement actions. Assets were provisionally secured, and cell phones, computers, and data storage devices were seized. Special Forces will now investigate the seized technology as the investigation continues.
The following authorities were involved in the actions:
Germany: Public Prosecution Office Leipzig – Central Cybercrime Office, Leipzig Criminal Investigation Department – Commissariat 33 (Cybercrime)
Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office Naples; Economic and Financial Police Units of the Guardia di Finanza Naples, Verona, Treviso and Bolzano
An important step in the fight against organised crime has been taken today with the launch of the European Judicial Organised Crime Network (EJOCN), hosted at Eurojust. The complex and fast-evolving nature of major crimes in Europe make strengthening international judicial coordination necessary. The EJOCN will go beyond the investigation-based collaboration and combat organised crime strategically. Dangerous criminal groups active in drug trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, cybercrime and more will now face the full force of specialised prosecutors from all 27 EU Member States.
76 per cent of criminal groups in the EU are active in two to seven countries and profits from all illicit activities are estimated at around EUR 139 billion annually. Dismantling these groups requires a transnational approach that is fast and flexible and that can adapt to an ever-changing criminal landscape. The EJOCN will focus on horizontal issues that arise in the investigation and prosecution of high-risk criminal networks. It will allow prosecutors to tackle recurring legal challenges and identify new, practical opportunities to cooperate.
Over the past 20 years, Eurojust has built up a solid track record in providing operational, technical, logistical and financial support to national prosecutors active in the fight against organised crime. The work of the EJOCN will benefit from Eurojust’s unique operational expertise in setting up joint investigation teams and using other judicial cooperation tools in cross-border criminal investigations.
Eurojust President, Mr Ladislav Hamran, commented on the launch of the network: ‘Today, we step up the fight against organised crime across the European Union. Supported by Eurojust, the European Judicial Organised Crime Network will strengthen coordination among specialist prosecutors and judges throughout the EU and will reinforce our commitment to justice and security for all citizens. Through closer collaboration and by aligning judicial strategies across Member States, we send a clear message: organised crime knows no borders, but neither does our resolve to investigate and prosecute.’
The network was officially launched at Eurojust on 25 September. Prosecutors from all Member States came together in The Hague to discuss the scope, vision and practical functioning of the EJOCN. High-level representatives such as Didier Reynders, EU Commissioner for Justice, and Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, addressed the participants during the opening.
The EJOCN will address the poly-criminal nature of criminal networks and their agility in adapting to changes in the criminal environment. The EJOCN’s initial priority focus is combatting drug-related organised crime connected to European ports and other logistic hubs. As key gateways to Europe, ports are not only important hubs for trade but also for crime. 70 per cent of drug seizures done by customs take place in ports. The availability of illicit drugs continues to increase, making drug trafficking one of the most lucrative revenue sources for international criminals. According to Europol’s report on the EU’s most threatening criminal networks, 50 per cent of networks active in the EU are involved in drug trafficking. Criminals active in drug trafficking often resort to extreme violence, money laundering and other offences.
Eurojust has been actively working with national authorities to combat drug trafficking. The number of drug trafficking cases at Eurojust has doubled since 2020. In 2023 alone, Eurojust worked on almost 2 500 cases that led to the seizure of drugs worth more than EUR 25 billion. More on Eurojust casework can be found here.
Investigations into the communication platform started when authorities were alerted of a new encrypted service being used in Sweden, France, Spain and the Netherlands. Due to servers being located in France, French authorities started investigations into the platform. The platform’s robust encryption made it ideal for criminal networks to use for their activities. It was mostly used for drug trafficking but also for other criminal activities, such as arms trading, homicide, robbery, kidnapping, and money laundering.
The communication platform is a fully anonymised service. Users can purchase the solution without any personal information. The platform uses three encryption standards and offers the option to send a message followed by a specific code that results in the self-destruction of all messages on the target phone. By using multiple private servers around the world, third party or government agencies have difficulty tracking the communication solution.
As servers were found in France and Iceland, the platform was administered from Australia and Canada, and financial assets were located in the United States, a global operation against the phone service started. A joint investigation team (JIT) between authorities from France and the United States was set up at Eurojust, the second-ever JIT with the United States. This allowed them to exchange information and evidence in real time. Authorities from the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada and Australia were also involved in the investigations. Through coordination among the authorities, hosted by Eurojust, a strategy to take down the encrypted phone solution was defined.
To facilitate investigations into the illegal activities using this communication platform, an Operational Taskforce (OTF) was established at Europol in March 2022 involving law enforcement authorities from Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States.
A Joint Operational Centre was also established at Europol’s headquarters, where representatives from the OTF members and Europol’s officers provided support and facilitated the coordination of the simultaneous operational activities taking place around the globe.
The investigations culminated in a number of joint action days taking place across the globe against the phone service. 38 suspects were arrested in Australia, 11 in Ireland, one in Italy and one in Canada. A drug lab was dismantled in Australia and weapons, drugs and over EUR 1 million euro is cash was seized globally so far. Further actions are expected as the investigation progresses.
The following authorities were involved in the actions:
France: Cybercrime unit Prosecutor’s office – JUNALCO (National Jurisdiction against organised crime); Gendarmerie Nationale – C3N Cybercrime Unit
Netherlands: National Police
Sweden: Swedish Prosecution Authority; Swedish Police Authority
Australia: The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Canada: Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Iceland: Director of Public Prosecution; National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police; Reykjavik Metropolitan Police
United States: Department of Justice; Federal Bureau of Investigation
During a visit to Eurojust, the President of Slovenia, Ms Nataša Pirc Musar, highlighted how judicial cooperation through the Agency supports justice being done across borders and ensures Europe’s safety. She met with Eurojust President, Mr Ladislav Hamran, who acknowledged Slovenia’s role in the fight against organised crime across Europe, and Eurojust Vice-President, Mr Boštjan Škrlec, who illustrated how Slovenian representation at Eurojust engages with partners from the European Union and beyond, to coordinate judicial cooperation and enhance security.
The President of Slovenia, Ms Nataša Pirc Musar said: I am pleased with the excellent work of Eurojust, particularly its cooperation with the competent authorities in Slovenia. I welcome the EU’s focus on tackling organized crime, such as money laundering and corruption, which cannot be addressed by national authorities alone. I believe a solid legal framework and political will are essential for effective cooperation with other countries, and Slovenia supports all initiatives in this regard. We will need to continue relying on Eurojust’s experience, both in developing new legislative approaches and in better implementing existing ones, ensuring their complementarity, and added value.
Since 2020, Slovenian authorities have worked on more than 1 300 cross-border cases at Eurojust. The Slovenian authorities initiated 1 070 of these cases whereby they requested cooperation with other authorities, following their own national investigations. In 304 cases, the Slovenian authorities were a requested party. Recently, Slovenian authorities worked together with Italian authorities to arrest a dangerous Italian fugitive criminal leader in Koper, Slovenia. Authorities from Slovenia were involved in 18 joint investigation teams (JITs). This cooperation tool allows authorities to directly exchange information and evidence in real time and jointly carry out operations, making judicial cooperation easier and more efficient.
The importance of Slovenian cooperation in cross-border judicial cooperation was emphasised by Eurojust president, Mr Ladislav Hamran, who stated, Crime carries no passport, and it is only through close cross-border cooperation between prosecutors and investigative judges that we can we ensure justice. With a 25% increase in its Eurojust caseload since 2020, Slovenia sets a strong example as a key partner for the EU’s safety and security. I am deeply grateful to President Pirc Musar for her support, and look forward to working even more closely with colleagues in Slovenia going forward.
The Eurojust cases that Slovenian authorities participated in focused mostly on swindling and fraud. Other crime areas that authorities were investigating included money laundering, drug trafficking and organised crime. Through Eurojust’s support tools, national authorities within and outside the European Union are able to work together effectively. Eurojust helps authorities overcome legal, language and resource barriers in their criminal investigations, ensuring that national borders are no obstacle to prosecuting crime and serving justice.
The 5-day course enhanced law enforcement’s and judicial authorities technical capacities in addressing transnational organized human trafficking and migrant smuggling crimes by adapting current and state-of-the-art investigation techniques and practices. It was organised under the framework of the Action Plan A: Countering the trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants within the cross-Mediterranean region.
Using various innovative and interactive training strategies, more than 50 human trafficking and migrant smuggling investigators, border security officers, prosecutors, and members of the judiciary from eight MENA countries were trained on addressing several cutting-edge topics relevant to the trafficking of persons and migrant smuggling crimes. It included identifying indicators and new criminal patterns and leading proactive investigations in the absence of victim cooperation, as well as prosecuting traffickers and smugglers successfully within a human rights framework.
Additionally, the training adopted a victim-centric approach, which provided participants with up-to-date practices for managing victims throughout the investigation and prosecution process. During that module, participants benefited from Eurojust’s experience via the participation of a representative of the Eurojust Victims’ Rights Working Group. The training also highlighted effective impact gender-sensitive policies could have on the success of the investigation process, especially in these types of crimes.
Lastly, the participants were introduced to new crime patterns and the challenges of the use of advanced technology like artificial intelligence in committing the crime and responding to it.
Over the last two and a half years, the JIT’s operations have significantly strengthened the capacity of member states to investigate Russian war crimes, laying a solid legal foundation for gathering, preserving, and exchanging evidence.
Just three weeks after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Eurojust supported the establishment of a JIT set up on 25 March 2022 by Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. On 30 May 2022, Estonia, Latvia and Slovakia became members, followed by Romania on 13 October 2022. On 3 March 2023, the JIT’s seven national authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Justice.
The United for Justice Conference, organised by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine on 11 September in Kyiv, was dedicated to the attacks committed by Russia to vital civilian infrastructure objects and their impact on Ukrainian population.
Since the start of the war, Ukraine has suffered devastating assaults on the energy grids, healthcare and education facilities, and agricultural land. The destruction has been widespread. Entire villages, towns, and cities have been nearly or completely destroyed, and homes, schools, hospitals have been reduced to ruins.
According to the data shared by the Ukrainian authorities, agricultural land has decreased by 24% since February 2022, affecting food security globally as well as the livelihoods of Ukrainians. As of December 2023, 3,798 educational institutions have been bombed or shelled, denying countless children the education they deserve.
The conference was officially opened by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Andriy Kostin, Eurojust President, Ladislav Hamran, and other key stakeholders involved in accountability efforts for core international crimes allegedly committed in Ukraine.
President Hamran commented: International humanitarian law is clear: civilian objects – those that do not serve a military purpose – cannot be targeted. These laws exist to protect those who are not involved in the fighting and their violation can constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Today, we are here to deliver a powerful message: Ukraine, with the support of the international community, will not let this happen. At Eurojust, we remain fully committed to making sure that justice is done.
During today’s conference, President Hamran also presented Eurojust’s operational work to tackle the illicit sale of technologies to Russia, a global challenge that needs a global response. In addition to this operational work, on 12 July, Eurojust and the U.S. Department of Justice organised a key meeting in The Hague to address this issue.
The conference dedicated several sessions to analysing the scale of the damage done to the energy, grain and ports infrastructure, and the health care and education facilities. Participants discussed the urgent need to investigate and prosecute these crimes and to mobilise resources to deter their commission and effectively deal with their consequences.
Eurojust and the war in Ukraine
Since the outbreak of the war, Eurojust has been at the forefront of supporting accountability for Russian crimes. Just three weeks following the full-scale invasion by Russia in 2022, Eurojust supported the setting up of a JIT that now consists of Ukraine, six EU Member States, the International Criminal Court and Europol.
In February 2023, Eurojust launched the Core International Crimes Evidence Database (CICED), based on an urgent amendment of Eurojust’s mandate, following the invasion of Ukraine. So far, thousands of files from various countries including Ukraine have been submitted to CICED for preservation and analysis. The International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine (ICPA), launched in July 2023 is also hosted by Eurojust, and together with CICED supports the work of the JIT.
For more information on the various actions taken by Eurojust since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, please consult our dedicated webpage.
2024 marks the 125th anniversary of the first Hague Peace Conference (1899) and many events are taking place in The Hague to mark this occasion.
Peace and justice organisations from across The Hague will open their doors to the public for the Just Peace Open Day on 22 September 2024.
This year, members of the public can find Eurojust at the House of Europe. Here you can meet the prosecutors tackling cross-border crime, listen to their stories on how Eurojust works or take part in a quiz about how we are getting justice done. We also have a special activity for children where they can help find evidence of crimes!
Attendees can also register to listen to a presentation by Eurojust’s Vice-President and Liaison Prosecutor from The Netherlands.
10:30-11:30 – Eurojust Presentation by Vice-President Bostjan Skrlec (English)
14:30-15:30 – Eurojust Presentation by Liaison Prosecutor Alexander Van Dam (Dutch)
More information about the event and how to register can be found here.
Date and time
Sunday, September 22 · 10am – 4pm CEST
Location
Huis Van Europa 5 Korte Vijverberg 2513 AB Den Haag
Important: the Eurojust building will not be open during the Just Peace Open Day 2024.