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Source: Europol
In total, 12 countries collected over 6 350 links from 46 online platforms and 20 websites that incite violence or contain hate speech against ethnoreligious groups. This includes material produced or disseminated by organisations, individuals or groups containing illegal hate speech, such as anti-Semitic hate speech, as well as material celebrating or calling for violent or terrorist acts against an…
Source: Eurojust
The criminal gang was responsible for the import, export, supply, transport and sale of weapons and explosive materials from Kosovo to Albania. It is suspected that the gang intended to set up a trafficking route towards the European Union. In addition to arms trafficking, the gang also trafficked drugs, mainly cocaine, from Albania to Kosovo.
In April this year, the Special Prosecutor’s Office in Kosovo found out about the criminal group and launched its investigation. As the criminal group consisted of citizens from both Kosovo and Albania, judicial cooperation began. A joint investigation team (JIT) was set up at Eurojust, with the support of the Western Balkans Criminal Justice Project. This project strengthens cooperation within the Western Balkans and between the region and the EU, using modern tools and methods to combat organised crime and terrorism.
The JIT enabled the Albanian and Kosovar authorities to work together efficiently and effective, exchanging information in real time. A joint operation was planned to arrest the members of the criminal group, search properties to seize arms and gather evidence.
On 10 and 11 December, authorities launched their joint operation. During their actions, eight suspects were arrested in Kosovo. Nine properties owned by the suspects were searched, where authorities seized 29 pistols, 3 long guns, over 2600 rounds of ammunition, 2 vehicles and electronic equipment. In Albania, six suspects were arrested and seven properties were searched. Authorities seized 23 firearms, a hand grenade, 470 rounds of ammunition, 3 vehicles, 10 mobile phones and a significant amount of money. Investigations are ongoing.
The following authorities were involved in the actions:
Albania: Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction of Tirana; State Police
Kosovo: Special Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kosovo; Kosovo Police
* 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: NATO
On Monday, 16 December 2024, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will meet with the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Mr Milojko Spajić, at NATO Headquarters, in Brussels.
Media advisory
13:25 (CET) Joint press conference by the Secretary General and the Prime Minister of Montenegro
Media coverage
For more information:
Contact the NATO Press Office
Follow us on X: @NATO, @SecGenNATO and @NATOPress
Source: NATO
In 2024, photographers from across the Alliance took thousands of pictures documenting NATO’s historic 75th anniversary year. They captured the magnitude of landmark political events like the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington D.C., the grit and cooperation of Allied troops conducting NATO exercises, and other moments of beauty, unity and humanity. We chose four of our favourite photos and put them to a vote on social media, asking the public to choose NATO’s photo of the year for 2024. And the winner is…
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
December 12, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with Jordan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Al Hnaity today by phone.
Gen. Brown and Maj. Gen. Al Hnaity discussed the recent events in Syria, progress with the ceasefire in Lebanon and delivery of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Both military leaders affirmed the importance of the U.S.-Jordan relationship and pledged to keep in close contact as the situation in Syria develops.
The U.S. and Jordan share strong military ties as key partners committed to Middle East peace, security and stability.
For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil.
Connect with the Joint Staff on social media:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube,
LinkedIn and Flickr.
Source: Europol
The scale and scope of this operation were designed to be as wide as possible. Checks and searches encompassed both the physical and the online world, including the clear web, the dark web, and social media platforms. Notably, these ‘cyber patrols’ involved not only law enforcement authorities but also prosecutors from different jurisdictions, adding significant value to their operational effectiveness.In…
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
December 12, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with France’s Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Thierry Burkhard yesterday by phone.
Gen. Brown and Gen. Burkhard discussed the French and U.S. African strategies, ceasefire implementation in Lebanon, implications of activity in Syria and Ukraine battlefield assessments.
The long-standing alliance between the U.S. and French militaries plays a critical role in maintaining peace and stability in Europe and other regions around the world.
For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil.
Connect with the Joint Staff on social media:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube,
LinkedIn and Flickr.
Source: NATO
In his first major speech as NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte highlighted the critical need to ramp up defence spending and defence production in an increasingly turbulent security environment. Speaking at an event hosted by Carnegie Europe in Brussels on Thursday (12 December 2024), Mr Rutte called on Allies to “shift to a wartime mindset and turbo charge our defence production and defence spending.”
– NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte
Mr Rutte’s speech was followed by a conversation moderated by Dr Rosa Balfour, Director of Carnegie Europe.
Source: Eurojust
Following the arrest of two members of an Italian mafia family in Brazil in 2019, investigations were launched into the links between Brazilian and Italian criminal groups. The investigations revealed strong ties between the Italian mafia and Brazilian criminal organisations involved in coordinating cocaine shipments to Europe from the Port of Paranaguá. Throughout the investigations, authorities documented over 1 500 kg cocaine trafficked to Europe.
The international criminal group linked to the ‘Ndrangheta in Piedmont concealed the cocaine shipments in cargo ships destined for various European ports. Drugs were also transported by air in private aircraft. Their activities generated huge profits for the criminal organisation. The multi-million euro profits were laundered through an intricate network of individuals and companies.
Italian and Brazilian authorities worked together on the complex investigation through a joint investigation team (JIT) set up at Eurojust in 2020. The JIT allowed the authorities to exchange information in real time and plan the arrests and searches, which took place simultaneously in Brazil and Italy. Europol supported the investigation by coordinating the exchange of information between EU Member States and Brazil, and providing EU authorities with intelligence packages. These files allowed affected countries to finalise their investigations. Before the action day, Europol welcomed two Brazilian experts to its headquarters in The Hague, who worked hand-in-hand with affected EU Member States.
The four-year investigation culminated in a large-scale operation on 10 December in Italy and Brazil. Italian and Brazilian authorities disrupted the activities of the criminal groups by arresting 23 suspects, 5 in Italy and 18 in Brazil. Searches were carried out at several addresses across Brazil.
The following authorities were involved in the actions:
Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Turin – District Antimafia Directorate; Italian National Antimafia Prosecutor’s Office; Carabinieri of the ROS (Special Operational Group) and of the Provincial Command of Turin; Italian Central Anti-Drug Directorate
Brazil: Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office of Brazil; Federal Police of Brazil through the Special Group for Sensitive Investigations of Paraná; Federal Police of the State of Paraíba, Authotities of the States of Curitiba and Joao Pessoa
Source: NATO
On Thursday (12 December 2024), Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed a group of World War II veterans from the United States to NATO Headquarters.
Corporal John D. Foy, Staff Sergeant George K. Mullins, Private First Class Fred J. Nungesser Jr, and Corporal Joseph R. Picard are now all 99 years old but as young men they fought to free Europe from tyranny. Mr Rutte paid tribute to them, “we are really honoured that you are all here. I can only start to imagine what you have gone through to liberate this part of the world. Amongst you, you have been in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Germany… I would like to say to you, on behalf of the whole Alliance, a heartfelt thank you for your service.” NATO staff and members of Allied delegations applauded as the four veterans entered the Headquarters.
This winter marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes region of Belgium, and next year will be the 80th anniversary of the end of the World War II in Europe, V-E Day. The veterans were also welcomed to NATO HQ by the Chair of the Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer, who underscored the value of their service. “Many, many millions of people have to thank you, and are thanking you, for what you have done because what you have done made it possible for us in Europe to live the lives we wanted to live.”
As they arrived, the former servicemen were also greeted by the Director General of the International Military Staff, Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak, and Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield from the US Mission to NATO.