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Source: Europol
The Working Arrangement provides a legal framework for the negotiation of related implementing agreements, such as the SIENA Memorandum of Understanding or the Liaison Agreement. If established, a SIENA connection would allow law enforcement authorities from Singapore to be connected with over 3 000 law enforcement agencies from over 70 countries, facilitating both bilateral communication with or without the involvement…
Source: Europol
The investigation revealed that the criminal network used the same modus operandi and, in part, also the same organisation and infrastructure as the perpetrators previously investigated under Operation Admiral. Announced in November 2022, the investigation is considered the largest VAT fraud ever uncovered in the EU, with damages now estimated at EUR 2.9 billion.The EPPO established links between individuals and…
Source: Europol
First presented at the SIRIUS Annual Conference to an audience of EU law enforcement and judicial authorities, policymakers, and representatives of service providers, the report reflects on the evolving legislative framework and the growing reliance on electronic data in criminal investigations, while highlighting the persistent barriers to effective cooperation in accessing electronic data across borders for investigation and prosecution of…
Source: Eurojust
Authorities have struck a blow at illegal streaming networks, by shutting down one of the world’s largest illegal service. Eurojust and Europol supported the operation, which involved cooperation between Italian, Croatian, Dutch, Romanian, Swedish, Swiss and UK authorities. In a large-scale operation, over 100 searches were carried out against 102 suspects. Eleven suspects are arrested in Croatia.
The suspects illegally distributed material from streaming services online, including films and series. They also pirated more than 2 500 television channels such as sports channels. The illegal service served more than 22 million users worldwide. They were able to make over EUR 250 million in illegal profits per month. The economic damages to the copyright holders of the material is estimated at EUR 10 billion.
To evade authorities, the suspects allegedly used encrypted messaging services to communicate and false identities to register phone numbers, credit cards, server rentals and television subscriptions. On 26 November, during an international operation, the servers hosting the illegal streaming were seized and shut down, disrupting the services.
Collaboration between authorities was set up at Eurojust to take down the streaming service. Coordination meetings at Eurojust’s headquarters allowed authorities from Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to work together on the investigation and plan the operation to shut down the service and arrest the suspects. Europol supported the operation by deploying experts and analysing the available intelligence during the investigation phase.
The cooperation between the authorities culminated in a joint operation to take down the services on 26 November. During searches in Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, Croatia, the United Kingdom and China, over EUR 1.6 million in cryptocurrency and EUR 40 000 in cash was seized. Croatian police arrested 11 suspects.
The authorities involved in the actions were:
Source: Europol
Results of the operation include:102 suspects identified11 people arrestedOver 112 house searches conductedAt least 29 servers seized100 domains taken down270 IPTV equipment/devices seizedOver 560 resellers identifiedVarious drugs and weapons seizedAround EUR 1.6 million in cryptocurrency and EUR 40,000 in cash seizedEuropol supported this international case since its inception by organising several virtual meetings and hosting an operational meeting at the…
Source: Europol
The cocaine traffickers targeted in this investigation used different maritime routes and modus operandi. The criminal network is connected to a seizure of over half a tonne of cocaine, with a street value of a EUR 50 million, at the port of Ploče in southern Croatia in late March 2021. The drugs were concealed in a modified cargo container floor….
Source: NATO
On Tuesday (26 November 2024), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed the sixth edition of the Atlantic Future Forum via video message. He outlined NATO’s three main priorities in the run up to next Summit in The Hague: strengthening collective defence, stepping up support to Ukraine, and deepening partnerships.
“Russia’s aggression is not contained to Ukraine. China, Iran and North Korea’s destabilising actions have far-reaching implications. When aggressors are emboldened it threatens us all, no matter how large or small,” the Secretary General said. “There is strength in numbers and value in building on a strong foundation, which is why we must continue to invest in NATO. A transatlantic future is the only way to ensure our freedom and security,” he concluded.
The Forum was chaired by former UK Cabinet Secretary and National Security Advisor Lord Sedwill, and First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key. The event in London brings together senior leaders from the military, government, and academia to discuss a range of security challenges, this year highlighting the war against Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
Source: Interpol (news and events)
LYON, France – A global operation involving law enforcement from 40 countries, territories and regions has ended with the arrest of over 5,500 financial crime suspects and the seizure of more than USD 400 million in virtual assets and government-backed currencies.
The five-month Operation HAECHI V (July – November 2024) targeted seven types of cyber-enabled frauds: voice phishing, romance scams, online sextortion, investment fraud, illegal online gambling, business email compromise fraud and e-commerce fraud.
As part of the operation, Korean authorities, in tandem with authorities in Beijing successfully dismantled a sprawling voice phishing syndicate responsible for financial losses totaling 1,511 billion KRW (USD 1.1 billion) and affecting over 1,900 victims. The organization’s sophisticated modus operandi included masquerading as law enforcement officials and using counterfeit identification. The operation led to the arrest of at least 27 members of the organized criminal group, with 19 individuals subsequently indicted.
INTERPOL also issued a Purple Notice during Operation HAECHI V to warn countries about an emerging cryptocurrency fraud practice involving stablecoin. Member countries were alerted to the “USDT Token Approval Scam” which allows fraudsters to access and control victims’ cryptocurrency wallets. The two-step approach first lures in victims using romance baiting techniques, instructing them to buy popular Tether stablecoins (USDT Tokens) via a legitimate platform. Once the scammers have gained their trust, the victims are provided with a phishing link claiming to allow them to set up their investment account. In reality, by clicking they authorize full access to the scammers, who can then transfer funds out of their wallet without the victim’s knowledge.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:
“The effects of cyber-enabled crime can be devastating – people losing their life savings, businesses crippled, and trust in digital and financial systems undermined.
“The borderless nature of cybercrime means international police cooperation is essential, and the success of this operation supported by INTERPOL shows what results can be achieved when countries work together. It’s only through united efforts that we can make the real and digital worlds safer.”
LEE Jun Hyeong, Head of Korea’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Seoul said:
“Colleagues here in Korea and across police forces worldwide have demonstrated outstanding dedication and professionalism during Operation HAECHI V. Our efforts not only brought criminals to justice but also achieved significant progress in intercepting and recovering illicit funds. We will continue to contribute to ensuring a swift and effective response to cyber-enabled financial crimes.”
Now in its fifth year, HAECHI V built on previous successes, almost doubling the number of cases solved (8,309) and tripling the number of virtual asset service provider (VASP) accounts blocked (1,023) compared to 2023.
In parallel with the operation, financial crime specialists from INTERPOL worked with police investigators and financial institutions in over 80 countries to strengthen use of INTERPOL’s Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP). This stop-payment mechanism helps countries work together to rapidly intercept stolen funds and played an instrumental part in Operation HAECHI V.
In one major I-GRIP-enabled win, the Singapore Police Force used the tool to rapidly request assistance from authorities in Timor Leste when a commodity firm in Singapore fell victim to a business email compromise fraud. The firm was tricked into transferring USD 42.3 million to a fake supplier’s bank account in Timor Leste, where authorities were able to intercept USD 39.3 million in the bank account. A total of seven suspects were arrested and further investigations also led to the recovery of an additional USD 2.6 million, as well as the discovery that part of the illicit funds had already been transferred from Timor Leste to Indonesia. Further investigations by the three jurisdictions are being coordinated by INTERPOL and steps are being taken to return the stolen funds to the victim in Singapore.
In Guernsey, United Kingdom, an I-GRIP awareness session led directly to a significant breakthrough. Immediately after the session, the Guernsey Financial Intelligence Unit worked with UK authorities to submit an I-GRIP request to Portugal seeking to intercept over GBP 2 million (USD 2.5 million) in funds arising from business email compromise fraud. Rapid communication with Portuguese police authorities via I-GRIP meant the money was intercepted and subsequently returned to the victim in full.
Note to editors:
HAECHI operations are supported financially by Korea.
HAECHI V participating countries, territories and regions: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands (UK), China, France, Ghana, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liechtenstein, Macao (China), Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Timor Leste, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam.
Source: NATO
Ambassadors met in the NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC) today (26 November 2024) to discuss the security situation in Ukraine following Russia’s launch of an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) last week. Senior Ukrainian military officials briefed the Council via video link.
During the meeting, NATO Allies reaffirmed their support for Ukraine. The attack, which targeted Dnipro, is seen as another attempt by Russia to terrorise the civilian population in Ukraine and intimidate those who support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression. As earlier noted by the NATO Spokesperson, Farah Dakhlallah, “deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO Allies from supporting Ukraine.”
The NATO-Ukraine Council provides a forum for consultation between Allies and Ukraine on security issues of common concern, including Russia’s war of aggression. The meeting was chaired by NATO’s acting Deputy Secretary General, Boris Ruge. The next meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council is due to take place during the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers that will be held on 3-4 December.
Source: Interpol (news and events)
UNITED NATIONS, New York – In an address to the UN General Assembly, INTERPOL’s Special Representative to the United Nations, Roraima Andriani, has underscored the Organization’s commitment to combatting crimes against women and to pursuing justice on their behalf.
Speaking on the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, she highlighted INTERPOL’s efforts to dismantle the networks that profit from crimes such as human trafficking, sexual and other types of exploitation which disproportionately affect women and girls.
Special Representative Andriani said:
“Violence against women takes many forms – physical, emotional, financial, and increasingly, digital. Reporting abuse demands extraordinary courage, and many women struggle to take that step. We have a duty to support those who do, ensuring their safety, protection, and recovery.
INTERPOL’s Special Representative shared the story of Rita Roberts, a young woman whose body was found in Belgium in 1992. She had been violently murdered and remained unidentified for 31 years.
Thanks to INTERPOL’s Identify Me campaign, an international public appeal for information led to a tip from the United Kingdom that restored the victim’s identity, giving her family answers and renewing hope for justice.
Identify Me aims to identify and return unknown deceased women to their families, highlighting the issue of missing and murdered women and girls who are disproportionately represented amongst unidentified deceased persons.
According to the UN, one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
INTERPOL’s work to help protect vulnerable communities worldwide – particularly in the areas of human trafficking and sexual exploitation – directly supports the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals by addressing violence against women and girls.
Its activities promoting global policing goals, law enforcement cooperation, and victim-centered investigations are driven by a gender equality perspective.