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Source: Europol
The members of the gang were involved in environmental crime, money laundering and document fraud. They exploited business structures and coordinated a supply chain for illegal plant protection products based in Italy, Portugal and Spain since 2020.The investigation was led by Spain (Guardia Civil). Given the complexity of the criminal network, the police operation was carried out in two phases:…
Source: Europol
This year’s topic: ‘Making Europe Safer’Participants have to be part of law enforcement agencies of EU Member States or of countries that have agreements and working arrangements with Europol. The 2025 Europol photo competition casts a wide net, inviting submissions that showcase the many ways that law enforcement officers are actively ‘Making Europe Safer’. Europe’s security starts abroad, which is…
Source: Europol
A total of 1.8 million users worldwide logged on to the platform between April 2022 and March 2025. On 11 March 2025, the server, which contained around 72 000 videos at the time, was seized by German and Dutch authorities.The investigation resulted in the identification of almost 1 400 suspects worldwide. So far, 79 of these individuals have been arrested…
Source: Europol
MDMA production raises safety and environmental concernsMDMA is primarily produced via the so-called ‘high-pressure’ method, using large industrial reactors. However, criminal networks are constantly adapting their production methods in response to shortages of equipment or chemicals. For example, changes in the availability of ‘high-pressure’ reactors have led producers to switch to the ‘cold method’. This alternative MDMA production method has…
Source: Europol
Criminals haunted by their chatsThis high-risk criminal network coordinated the drug trade using these sophisticated communication channels, relying on both encryption and multi-platform distribution. The sophistication of their communications was in stark contrast to the simplicity of their modus operandi; it consisted of smuggling cocaine and marijuana across the continent in vehicles equipped with custom-made secret compartments and cloned number…
Source: Europol
Europol supported the French National Police (Police Nationale/OLTIM) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) in dismantling an organised criminal network smuggling migrants from Spain to France.The investigation was initiated in November 2022 and targeted individuals, based in Marseille, suspected of smuggling migrants between Spain and France. Europol’s analysis of the operational data made it possible to identify additional suspects…
Source: Europol
The fraud scheme centred on fraudulent reimbursements for hearing aids exploiting France’s public health insurance system. In July 2024, the fraudsters set up fictitious hearing aid companies, using usurped diplomas to secure accreditation from health authorities and contracts with the French health insurance fund. Armed with stolen patient details, they issued false invoices, leading to EUR 6.7 million in fraudulent…
Source: Europol
On 19 March 2025, an operation involving law enforcement and judicial authorities from Belgium and Germany, coordinated by Europol, targeted a migrant smuggling network active across the English Channel. The operation was also supported by Italy and Eurojust. The investigation targeted a criminal network based in Germany and involved in criminal activities facilitating the smuggling of Middle Eastern and East…
Source: Europol
A changing DNA: how organised crime is mutatingJust as DNA shapes the blueprint of life, the blueprint of organised crime is being rewritten. No longer bound by traditional structures, organised crime has adapted to a world shaped by global instability, digitalisation and emerging technologies.The EU-SOCTA identifies three defining characteristics of today’s serious and organised crime landscape:1. Crime is increasingly destabilisingSerious…
Source: Europol
A large-scale drug trafficking investigation, supported by Europol, led to the dismantling of an Ecuadorian criminal cell involved in supplying wholesale cocaine to the EU via major ports. The international operation, led by the Ecuadorian National Police (Policía Nacional del Ecuador), also involved the German Criminal Police (LKA Baden-Württemberg), German Customs (ZFA Stuttgart) and the Spanish Guardia Civil.The criminal structure…