Shaping an international response against the criminal misuse of cryptocurrencies

Source: Europol

Co-organised by Europol and the Basel Institute on Governance, the 7th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies was hosted at Europol’s headquarters.  The two-day event (26-27 October), organised in a hybrid format, was attended by representatives from law enforcement, the public and private sectors, policy institutions and academia from more than 100 countries. The aim was to explore trends…

Unleashing tech in the fight against intellectual property crime

Source: Europol

The conference, themed “Tackling counterfeit goods posing a threat to health, safety, and the environment,” delved deep into the critical issues surrounding intellectual property (IP) crime, with a particular focus on the role of advanced technology. Within a busy agenda of conference activities, a diverse group of experts and stakeholders from around the world came together for the discussion.  Key…

Exploring the second quantum revolution: new report

Source: Europol

Quantum computing and quantum technologies are knocking on law enforcement’s door with new opportunities, as well as new threats, that authorities need to anticipate. Europol published today the first-of-its-kind report, “The Second Quantum Revolution: The impact of quantum computing and quantum technologies on law enforcement”. The report provides a forward-looking assessment of the impact of quantum computing and quantum technologies…

Ragnar Locker ransomware gang taken down by international police swoop

Source: Europol

This action, coordinated at international level by Europol and Eurojust, targeted the Ragnar Locker ransomware group. The group were responsible for numerous high-profile attacks against critical infrastructure across the world. In an action carried out between 16 and 20 October, searches were conducted in Czechia, Spain and Latvia. The “key target” of this malicious ransomware strain was arrested in Paris,…

Amphetamine: new analysis on Europe’s most common synthetic stimulant highlights sophisticated EU-based production and environmental concerns

Source: Europol

The analysis, from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), covers the supply chain from production and trafficking to distribution and use. It also details the processes, materials and criminal actors involved at different stages and levels of the market. Europe is a major global producer of…

38 arrests in action against agricultural labour exploitation

Source: Europol

The action week resulted in: 38 arrests 43 suspected traffickers identified 20 new criminal investigations initiated 1 583 workers subjected to exploitation and labour violations identified (including 353 identified as possible victims of human trafficking) 687 employers committing labour violations identified 156 new inspections by labour authorities initiated 29 forged documents identified 27 653 persons checked 3 148 locations checked…

Targeted: human traffickers luring victims online

Source: Europol

Human trafficking organisations have become increasingly digital, with the internet becoming an important enabler of criminal activities in this area. The 2023 Hackathon focused on identifying online platforms and social media hubs used to recruit victims for sexual and labour exploitation. Human traffickers use different methods to lure vulnerable individuals and exploit them for profit. For example, they are increasingly…

Human trafficking ring exploiting children halted in Serbia

Source: Europol

The actions led to: 4 house searches in Serbia 5 arrests (Serbian nationals), including the leader of the criminal group 8 victims identified (6 minors between 5 and 11 years old and two adults) Seizures include large amounts of cash and digital equipment, including over six mobile phones and financial documents. Victims aged between 5 and 17 The investigation targeted…

2 040 tonnes of illegal pesticides seized and 21 suspects arrested in global operation

Source: Europol

During the operation, law enforcement authorities identified criminal trends in plant protection products emerging on the EU black market. These trends include the sale of counterfeits, banned products and unregulated imports – both online and offline. The participating authorities carried out inspections at land and sea borders, inland marketplaces, parcel service providers and online marketplaces. Cases of abuse in the…