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Source: Europol
Results of the action day include:arrest of 7 members of the criminal network;dismantling of the largest laboratory of synthetic opioids ever found in Poland, used to produce methadone in crystalline form;dismantling of 8 multi-laboratories in Poland and Ukraine, used for the production of synthetic cathinones (mephedrone, Alpha-PVP) and methadone;seizure of 195 kilograms of methadone in crystalline form;seizure of 153 kilograms…
Source: Europol
The agreement includes provisions on the exchange of information and data protection, the rights of data subjects, the establishment of a supervisory authority, and administrative and judicial redress.This is the first agreement of its kind since the Europol Regulation 2017, which allows Europol to transfer personal data to an authority of a third country on the basis of an international…
Source: Europol
The seizures included large quantities of drugs and criminal assets:47 kilograms of freshly processed cocaine hydrochloride;20 kilograms of cocaine base (processed cocaine paste);2 kilograms of marijuana;3 000 litres and 300 kilograms of various chemicals;3 firearms;EUR 245 000 in cash;13 vehicles.Ingenious cross-ocean smuggling techniqueUsing a sophisticated method to avoid detection, the criminals injected cardboard boxes containing legal cargo (such as fruit)…
Source: Europol
On 19 August, Bulgarian law enforcement authorities arrested eight suspected members of a gang involved in smuggling migrants into Europe. Four of the suspects arrested during the action day had already been identified as High Value Targets who played a leading role in the criminal activities. The gang charged up to EUR 6 000 per person and smuggled more than…
Source: Europol
Leading up to the action day, authorities across Europe had seized counterfeit banknotes of various denominations (mostly 20, 50 and 100 euros) worth around EUR 950 000 before they entered circulation, all traceable to the same producer. Furthermore, the arrested counterfeiter is believed to be responsible for over 27% of all faked euro banknotes discovered and taken out of circulation…
Source: Europol
A suspiciously dormant projectThe suspect’s company, which was registered in Spain, had reported hardly any commercial activity since its establishment. It had never developed any project, neither in Spain nor in any other country. However, between 2020 and 2022 the company reported two income streams for a total amount of over EUR 4.5 million. Further investigation showed that individuals close…
Source: Eurojust
The OCG started their scam by posting false advertisements on the internet that promoted an investment plan that would lead to secure, quick and substantial earnings in virtual currencies. To ensure the credibility of the advertisements, pictures of well-known people, logos of banks and specialised economic publications were added.
People clicking on the advertisement were led to a fake investment platform where the victims would fill in their personal information. To obtain even more personal data, the scammers, posing as financial actors, called their victims to gain access to their bank accounts. With access to the bank accounts, the group transferred sums of money and took over the possession of the victim’s virtual currencies. Through this scam, the OCG was able to gain approximately EUR 3 million.
Investigations into the scam started after victims in Romania reached out to the authorities. This resulted in the uncovering of an organised crime group in Moldova that was responsible for the scam. Investigations continued at Eurojust, where the Romanian and Moldovan authorities set up a joint investigation team (JIT) to work together quickly and efficiently to stop the OCG.
The coordinated actions led to an action day on 7 August during which 19 house searches were conducted in Moldova and evidence such as computers, data storage units, weapons and ammunition, and documents were seized. Moldovan authorities ordered the preventive detention of 12 suspects.
Europol supported the action day by setting up a virtual command post to coordinate the operational activities, providing live cryptoanalysis and cross-checks against Europol’s databases as the data was being collected in the field.
The following authorities were involved in the actions:
Source: Europol
Several locations were also searched simultaneously in North Macedonia, where machines for the production of counterfeit currency, thousands of assembled coins, rings and core blanks were seized.The individual arrested is identified as an employee of the Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia. Authorities were alerted to the suspect’s activities through a coordinated intelligence-sharing effort.A joint investigation team (JIT) was established…
Source: Eurojust
06 August 2024|
With support provided via the Western Balkans Criminal Justice Project, hosted by Eurojust, an alleged large-scale coin forger has been arrested in Kosovo*. The arrested person is an employee of the North-Macedonian Ministry of the Interior and is suspected of producing around 2 million fake EUR 2 coins, which were about to be circulated into the Kosovar economy.
Europol provided intelligence analysis, operational coordination and technical assistance to ensure the successful apprehension of the suspect.
Investigations will now seek to establish the full scale of the coin forgery. During searches of the suspect’s home, machines for the production of counterfeit currency, coin templates and raw materials have been seized. The suspect had been under surveillance for a longer period.
His successful apprehension was the result of a joint investigation team (JIT) supported by the Western Balkans Criminal Justice Project, and financed as part of the operational activities of the investigations. The investigations were also financially supported by the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).
EMPACT tackles the most important threats posed by organised and serious international crime affecting the European Union. EMPACT strengthens intelligence, strategic and operational cooperation between national authorities, EU institutions and bodies, and international partners. EMPACT runs in four-year cycles focusing on common EU crime priorities. Fraud, economic and financial crimes are among the priorities for the 2021-2025 Policy Cycle.
The following authorities were involved in the operations:
* This designation is made without prejudice to positions on status and is in accordance with UNSCR 1244/ 1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
Source: Europol
Several locations were also searched simultaneously in North Macedonia, where machines for the production of counterfeit currency, thousands of assembled coins, rings and core blanks were seized.The individual arrested is identified as an employee of the Ministry of Interior in North Macedonia. Authorities were alerted to the suspect’s activities through a coordinated intelligence-sharing effort.A joint investigation team (JIT) was established…