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Source: Europol
The lab was located in a mansion in a remote area. Two Dutch nationals, who were identified as chemists, were responsible for the drug production, while one Belgian national facilitated the production process. Investigators believe the lab had been operating for more than a year and that it had the capacity to produce hundreds of kilos of amphetamine and methamphetamine…
Source: Europol
The investigation, code-named ‘Nimmersatt’ (‘Insatiable’ in German), extended from the US to Russia, with links to Canada, Hungary, Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK), as well as 11 EU countries. Investigative measures were conducted today and yesterday in Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Spain.Wrecked cars, fake import papers, cosmetic repairs and tax fraudCriminal organisations…
Source: Europol
These results were made possible by the continued exploitation of encrypted communication platforms, including Sky ECC and ANOM, which remain powerful tools in the hands of investigators.Unmasking the drug pipelines into EuropeOn 15 April, coordinated raids took place in several European countries and Türkiye, targeting both the leadership and logistical arms of these criminal networks. A total of 232 suspects…
Source: Europol
Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the gang, which is believed to have sourced high-powered weapons from illegal markets in the Western Balkans and trafficked them into France for onward distribution.The joint operation – supported by Europol and Eurojust – has taken down the full supply chain behind the trafficking route, from source to destination.Caravan weapons cache sparks…
Source: Europol
At the end of 2022, the French Gendarmerie in Strasbourg initiated an investigation against a criminal network involved in the smuggling of migrants from Serbia into the EU. The criminal network was mainly active across the Serbian-Hungarian and Greek-Turkish borders. However, smuggling operations linked to this network were also detected at intra-Schengen borders, notably at the Austrian-Hungarian and the Austrian-Croatian…
Source: Europol
The Working Arrangement provides for a structured and enhanced exchange of information (non-personal data) on transnational, serious and organised crime. Following the signing of the Working Arrangement, Egypt’s Ministry of Interior will be able to deploy a liaison officer to join Europol’s liaison officer community at its headquarters in The Hague. The Working Arrangement does not provide a legal basis…
Source: Europol
While the actions in May 2024 targeted high-level actors who facilitated cybercrime, by deploying ransomware, for example, this follow-up operation targets a different level. Law enforcement moved – and continues to move – against the criminals who used the services taken down during Operation Endgame, focusing on the demand side of the criminal ecosystem. Customers of crime-as-a-service providers are now…
Source: Europol
Decisive action against key smuggling routeIn recent years, Egyptian nationals have increasingly been reported as both illegal migrants and smugglers operating on various routes into and throughout the EU, including the Mediterranean and the Western Balkan routes. The network targeted by this investigation offered illegal journeys by sailboat from the Turkish coast to Italian and Greek destinations, demanding payments of…
Source: Europol
The operation took place on 7 April and resulted in:3 suspects arrested in Italy600 counterfeit euro banknotes seized in denominations of EUR 10, 20, 50, and 100 for a total value of around EUR 50,000Print shop producing counterfeit euro banknotes dismantledIllegal mint (stamping press) dismantledCryptocurrency payments and shipping through postal serviceThe investigation, which began in 2024, revealed that a criminal…
Source: Europol
Although biometric recognition systems are generally robust, provided they are well-secured and implemented correctly, academic research shows that there are ways to trick these systems. Examples include the use of masks, artificial fingerprints or deepfakes to bypass biometric authentication mechanisms. As authentication increasingly relies on biometric identification, it is crucial for law enforcement to understand the associated vulnerabilities. By researching…