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Source: Europol
The arrested individual was wanted by Slovenian authorities and was under investigation for drug trafficking and money laundering. Authorities believe the suspect recruited accomplices and provided them with vehicles with purpose-built hidden compartments in order to transport and sell cocaine and heroin. They would then launder the profits by purchasing real estate and luxury vehicles. During the operational activities, law…
Source: Europol
The joint investigation into this criminal network was initiated in 2021. The suspects recruited the victims, young women from Romania, via the so-called ‘lover boy’ method or by seducing them with the false promise of good work opportunities abroad. Once the girls were under their control, the suspects transported them to Spain and forced them into street prostitution. They coerced…
Source: Europol
During the large-scale operation, which involved almost 200 police officers, law enforcement authorities also dismantled a laboratory in Belgium where members of the criminal organisation produced and stored synthetic drugs. Following production, the criminal group would smuggle the drugs across different countries in Europe. The action day on 12 December 2023 led to:16 locations searched (3 specific spots believed to be…
Source: Europol
The operation led to:226 inspectionsSeizures include: timber from Myanmar with an estimated value of EUR 12 000; Brazilian timber – equivalent to 2 maritime containers – with an estimated value of EUR 67 0001 criminal investigation initiated.A lucrative practice with pernicious effects on climateIllegal timber trade is an ominous practice that entails the clear-cutting of an area of forest equivalent…
Source: Europol
For the past several years, Europol has been observing a growing crime phenomenon: the use of Bluetooth trackers in organised crime.Bluetooth trackers are small devices designed to help people find personal objects, such as keys and bags, as well as vehicles at risk of theft. They can be attached to an item one does not want to lose, and wirelessly…
Source: Europol
Europol’s latest Serious and Organised Crime Threat assessment (EU SOCTA) report highlights that 60% of the criminal networks use corruption to facilitate their criminal activities. Continuing the fight against corruption is therefore crucial to bring down the criminal networks that pose the most serious risks to the security of EU citizens. Swift and close cooperation between national authorities is decisive in…
Source: Europol
Europol’s Deputy Executive Director Jean-Phillipe Lecouffe, Operations Directorate, who opened the conference, said: I see a continuous and urgent need for enhanced international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking. The complex nature of this global challenge demands a unified response in transcending geopolitical boundaries and fostering collaboration among countries and with private parties. The exchange of intelligence, joint operations, and…
Source: Europol
After a pre-selection process, 32 images were shortlisted and put to a vote. Three awards were up for grabs this year, each decided by a different group of voters:the international law enforcement community represented in our headquarters members of the public Europol staffWe are happy to announce that Caroline Cange from Belgium, Connie Maria Westergaard from Denmark, and Jan-Niklas Kansteiner from Germany…
Source: Europol
During the action day, officers arrested 10 suspects. Six are accused of trafficking in human beings, of which five are Greek nationals and one is a Venezuelan national. These six suspects allegedly belonged to an organised criminal group involved in the sexual and economic exploitation of female victims. The remaining four arrested suspects worked at the onsite locations in which…
Source: Europol
In early 2023, the Spanish Civil Guard opened an investigation into the manufacture of illegal firearms. Clues pointed investigators to individuals across Europe and North America who had purchased specific tools to manufacture or modify firearms. Some of the individuals had previous criminal records, including for firearms-related crimes. The investigation uncovered several illegal workshops for the production of firearms. In…