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Source: Europol
The investigation began in the autumn of 2022, following reports of fraudulent phone calls in which scammers impersonated bank employees to extract sensitive information, such as addresses and security answers, from victims. The stolen data was traced back to a specialised online marketplace that operated as a central hub for the trade of illegally obtained information.A central hub for cyber…
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:
*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
Source: NATO
On Wednesday 4 December 2024, NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, met with the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
The Secretary General thanked Montenegro for promoting peace, stability and security in the Western Balkans and its contributions to NATO missions and operations. They discussed the importance of keeping NATO strong and stepping up support for Ukraine.
Source: Europol
The signatures of these two legal instruments put into practice the Working Arrangement between Chile and Europol, which is in force since 1 May 2021. The SIENA Memorandum of Understanding will allow Chile to establish a connection with the Agency, permitting a secure exchange of sensitive information. A SIENA connection would enable law enforcement authorities from Chile to be connected…
Source: NATO
NATO Foreign Ministers wrapped up two days of meetings in Brussels on Wednesday (December 4) addressing Russia’s escalating campaign of hostile actions in NATO countries.
At their meeting on Wednesday, Allies considered a set of measures to counter Russia’s actions against NATO and individual Allies. Secretary General Mark Rutte said that “both Russia and China have tried to destabilise our countries and divide our societies with acts of sabotage, cyber-attacks, and energy blackmail”. He noted that Ministers agreed a set of measures to counter Russia’s hostile and cyber activities, including enhanced intelligence exchange, more exercises, better protection of critical infrastructure, improved cyber defence, and tougher action against Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil exporting ships. He further stressed that NATO “will work closely together with the EU on these issues”. Mr. Rutte underscored that the increasing alignment of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran highlights the global nature of the threats we face, including the escalating dangers of the ongoing war in Ukraine. He noted that in return for troops and weapons, Russia is providing North Korea with support for its missile and nuclear programmes. “These developments could destabilise the Korean Peninsula and even threaten the United States. So Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine threatens us all”, he said.
During the two-day meeting NATO Allies also met with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the importance of NATO cooperating even more closely with its partners in the region. The Secretary General thanked the King of Jordan for his personal leadership and support to the Alliance and noted that NATO will open a Liaison Office in Amman soon to further deepen these ties.
NATO Ministers also met with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and with Kaja Kallas, the new EU High Representative, in the NATO-Ukraine Council. They discussed Ukraine’s most urgent needs, as well as what more Allies can do to provide critical ammunition and air defences, as Russia steps up its attacks and expands the war with the aid of North Korean troops and weapons. Mr Rutte noted that continued support for Ukraine is a priority, ensuring that, when the time comes, Ukraine can negotiate peace from a position of strength. He further highlighted how NATO is delivering on its commitments, including through a financial pledge and the new command in Wiesbaden, NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine. The Secretary General stressed that “we must do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight. We must provide enough support to change the trajectory of this conflict once and for all”.
Source: NATO
Meeting in Brussels on Tuesday (December 3), NATO Foreign Ministers welcomed His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan for a discussion on NATO’s southern neighbourhood and how best to work together to address common challenges to security. Jordan is one of NATO’s most important partners in the Middle East and this was the first time that King Abdullah II participated in a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers. Secretary General Mark Rutte noted that NATO will soon open a Liaison Office in Amman as an important step “in making our deep relationships in the region even stronger”.
Ministers also met in the NATO-Ukraine Council with Minister Andrii Sybiha of Ukraine and the new EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. Secretary General Rutte underscored how Ukraine has resisted Russian aggression, noting that the “situation on the battlefield is difficult, and we have to do everything we can to get more military aid into Ukraine”. He said that Putin “is pressing on, trying to take more territory. Because he thinks he can break Ukraine’s resolve and ours. But he is wrong”. Mr. Rutte condemned Russia’s recent launch of an experimental intermediate range ballistic missile and noted that deploying this capability “will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO Allies from supporting Ukraine”.
The Secretary General said that NATO Allies are stepping up with more military support for Ukraine, a new command to coordinate assistance and training, and a financial pledge of 40 billion euros as a minimum baseline for this year. He said that it is necessary now to make sure that military aid goes to Ukraine, so that if Ukraine decides to “enter into talks with the Russians one day, they will do this from a position of strength”.
On Wednesday, NATO Foreign Ministers will address Russia’s hostile actions in NATO countries, including acts of sabotage, cyber-attacks, and energy blackmail. In previewing the meeting during a press conference, the Secretary General said that “none of these actions will deter us from supporting Ukraine or making our own defences stronger”.
Source: NATO
On Wednesday, 4 December 2024, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will meet with the President of Montenegro, Mr Jakov Milatović, at NATO Headquarters, in Brussels.
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Source: Europol
MATRIX, a messaging service made by criminals for criminals, was first discovered by Dutch authorities on the phone of a criminal convicted for the murder of a Dutch journalist in 2021. A large-scale investigation into the messaging service was initiated. It was soon clear that the infrastructure of this platform was technically more complex than previous platforms such as Sky…
Source: Europol
In a long-term investigation supported by Europol, law enforcement authorities from Belgium, Colombia and Spain have dismantled a drug ring orchestrating large-scale cocaine trafficking from Colombia to the EU. The national authorities involved arrested 32 individuals in total, including the leader of the network. Law enforcement also seized 5.8 tonnes of cocaine in Colombia (Cartagena and Baranquilla) and on European…
Source: NATO
From 19 to 21 November 2024, the NATO Electronic Warfare Advisory Committee (NEWAC) held its 116th plenary meeting at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Colonel Fatih Akgul, chairperson of the Committee presided over the meeting.
The widespread use of Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) in Ukraine and in the Middle East demonstrates that it has become a crucial domain in modern warfare. EW tactics – consisting of radar systems attacks, jamming of communications and navigation systems, as well as electronic masking, probing, and intelligence gathering – have become pivotal at all levels of multidomain operations. NATO’s ability to counter the use of EW by adversaries is essential for security across the Alliance.
Speakers at the plenary meeting emphasised the importance of achieving electromagnetic superiority in modern warfare, and made proposals on the governing structure and doctrinal development of Electromagnetic Operations (EMO). Committee members shared their national perspectives and agreed to further develop these proposals. Discussions focused on the endorsement of a new mechanism for information exchange and reporting on EW among NATO Allies. Participants also shared lessons learnt from national and multinational exercises.
NEWAC is the principal forum for consultation and coordination of EW, providing critical advice and recommendations to the Military Committee. The bi-annual NEWAC Plenary meeting brings together military representatives from all 32 Allies, experts from Strategic Commands, and other NATO committees and entities. The next meetings are scheduled to be held in the United States and Türkiye.