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Source: Europol
Targeting the full operational chain to dismantle the cocaine cartelThe internationally coordinated actions targeted the criminal network, which was orchestrating multi-tonne cocaine trafficking from Colombia, Brazil and Ecuador to the EU. The suspects arranged the trafficking into the EU through maritime shipments going via logistical hubs in West Africa and the Canary Islands. Once the drugs had reached the EU,…
Source: Europol
Speakers:EuropolSpanish Guardia CivilEurojustCountries involved:Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Moldova, Netherlands, Romania, Slovak Republic, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United StatesDate: 14 June 2024Time: 15:00 CESTPlace: Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. This press conference will also be live-streamed on the homepage of Europol’s website.Ground rules: On-the-record press conference.RSVP: Journalists interested in attending this press conference in…
Source: Eurojust
A fraudulent pyramid scheme was taken down by authorities from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Lithuania and Liechtenstein, with the support of Eurojust and Europol. The organised crime group (OCG) used an investment model that focused on the leasing and subleasing of cryptocurrency machines, such as exchange machines and hardware for mining. The suspects were able to target thousands of victims, causing losses of up to EUR 113 million. During an action day on 11 June, six arrests were made, 29 searches were conducted and the suspects’ assets were frozen.
The advertised investment concept involved the leasing of cryptocurrency products, such as investments in server storage for internet cloud services and the subleasing of crypto exchange machines. The suspects promised returns of 70% before tax to those joining the scheme. Investigations by German authorities showed that the promised returns were not only unrealistic, but also impossible, as the leased equipment and systems allegedly did not exist.
As the promised investment scheme did not exist as advertised, the suspects created a pyramid scheme, where most of the revenue for earlier investors came from more recent investors. The funds collected were not used for the promised investments, but mainly for the suspects’ living expenses. Throughout the scheme, the suspects concluded thousands of contracts, earning up to EUR 113 million.
As soon as the fraudulent scheme was discovered by German authorities, two coordination meetings were held at Eurojust to exchange information and evidence with authorities from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Lithuania and Liechtenstein. To ensure a continued smooth cooperation, a joint investigation team (JIT) between German and Swiss authorities was set up with the support of Eurojust.
The cooperation between authorities resulted in an action day on 11 June, with the involvement of over 280 officers on the ground. The actions resulted in six arrests, 29 searches, the seizing of evidence, and the freezing of several assets. Due to the coordination between the authorities, and the use of Eurojust’s facilities, simultaneous actions were carried out in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Lithuania and Liechtenstein.
The following authorities were involved in the operation:
Source: Europol
During the raid, officers seized the print shop used to counterfeit euro banknotes of various denominations (5, 10, 20 and 50). It was equipped with the tools and materials used to produce highly sophisticated counterfeits. Officers at the scene confiscated printing and cutting machines, as well as raw materials for the banknotes and their security features. Analysis by the European…
Source: Eurojust
The report gives an overview of the use of encrypted communication tools such as EncroChat and SkyECC by criminal networks and analyses the topic of encryption from a legal, technical, policy and research point of view. The publication also touches on specific judicial processes and court rulings.
Furthermore, the new report includes an elaborate analysis of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union of 30 April this year on encrypted communications. This ruling clarifies the conditions for EU Member States to request and transmit intercepted data from encrypted communication channels for use as evidence in criminal proceedings, in order to safeguard fundamental rights and enable continued investigations into criminal activities.
The publication also provides technical information on new developments and tools such as quantum computing, cryptocurrencies, biometric data, telecommunications and artificial intelligence. It also presents an overview of the challenges and opportunities they represent for judicial and law enforcement authorities.
The main ideas in the conclusions and recommendations are:
The report is the result of the pooling of expertise of all partners collaborating in the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security, hosted at Europol, including the EU Agencies CEPOL, EIGE, EUAA, Eurojust, Europol, Frontex, FRA and the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (including the EU Counterterrorism Coordinator’s Office), as well as the European Commission (Directorate Generals JRC and Home).
Source: Europol
Encryption represents an important means of securing private communications. However, at the same time, it also enables threat actors to manage their malicious activities below the radar of law enforcement. Understanding the needs and challenges of stakeholders in the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) community is the foundation of adopting the necessary measures to keep Europe safe, while safeguarding fundamental…
Source: Europol
This year, Europol’s photo competition is open to more entrants than ever before. As well as participants from law enforcement agencies in the EU Member States, we now also invite officers from all countries with agreements and working arrangements with Europol to participate!Three categories showcasing contemporary law enforcementThe 2024 edition of the Europol photo competition will have three themed categories,…
Source: Europol
A series of raids were carried out on 21 and 27 May in France, Italy and Romania. They resulted in 11 detentions, including the mastermind behind the money laundering scheme. Law enforcement authorities also carried out 15 house searches and seized several electronic devices, jewellery and cryptocurrencies.The organised crime group under investigation carried out classic ‘rip-deal’ scams, targeting millionaires looking…
Source: Eurojust
A large-scale ring of luxury car thieves has been dismantled with the support of Eurojust and Europol. Using straw men and underprivileged people, the criminals hired or leased luxury vehicles, which they later registered in their own names through corrupt connections in official institutions.
The cars were resold outside the EU, including in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. In a series of recent coordinated actions in Spain, France, Germany, Latvia, Poland and Ukraine, 13 suspects were arrested for fraud, forgery and money laundering.
Through a coordination centre at Eurojust, over sixty places were also searched by national authorities. Several luxury vehicles, communication equipment and documents were seized, as well as over EUR 100 000 in cash.
The Spanish authorities launched their investigation in 2022 following reports of luxury cars going missing from legitimately operating car rental and lease companies in and around Malaga. These investigations revealed that dozens of vehicles were ultimately stolen across Europe by a network of linked criminals. They exploited around fifty vulnerable and underprivileged people by using their documents, such as driving licences and passports, to hire or lease luxury cars.
Through corrupt contacts in official institutions, they managed to register the hired vehicles on to their personal documents, so they could sell them in the European Union and beyond, including Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Some of the stolen vehicles were transported in containers to conceal the cars.
Investigations were later also started in France, Poland and Ukraine, which revealed links between different criminal groups using the same modus operandi. In March of this year, with the support and funding of Eurojust, authorities in France, Spain and Ukraine set up a joint investigation team into the car thefts. Eurojust also organised two preparatory coordination meetings to prepare for the recent action day week and set up the coordination centre.
Europol assisted the operations against the criminal network by producing criminal intelligence packages. It also provided an operational coordination centre to support the actions at police level.
Operations on the ground were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:
Source: Europol
The international operation began as a Spanish investigation, initiated when car rental and leasing companies in the Málaga area reported missing luxury cars. Investigators soon uncovered a criminal network that was using the driving licences or passports of vulnerable persons to rent or lease prestigious cars. Europol formed an operational task force with France, Spain, Poland and Ukraine to thwart…