Crime News

Update 17 March 2020 - 17:43 Given the decision of the Dutch Government that the workforce in the Netherlands should work from home as much as possible, Europol’s Executive Director and the Crisis Management Team have decided to implement teleworking from home for the majority of staff until further notice. Europol has a pandemic response plan in place, ensuring that the agency’s essential work to support law enforcement agencies in the Member States of the European Union continues in any scenario.   Europol’s Crisis Management Team has been actively monitoring the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning and is prepared for all possible scenarios to ensure not only the well-being of its staff but also business continuity.   Europol already canceled and suspended all meetings with external participants as well as all business trips two weeks ago.

Police in the Netherlands, Poland and Turkey carried out the transnational joint investigation Operation Horizoncity in the beginning of March. Europol coordinated and supported the investigations over the last two years. In addition, Belgium and Germany cooperated actively. Operation Horizoncity aimed at unprecedented large-scale heroin shipments from the Middle East and big amounts of cocaine coming from Latin America.  During the investigations and action day more than 2.4 tonnes of heroin was seized. The majority of the heroin consignments were heading to the Netherlands and destined for the European illegal heroin market. The Turkish Organised Crime Group and their criminal logistic infrastructure and facilitators were dismantled. In total 13 criminals were arrested in the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and Belgium, including two high value criminal targets. The heroin was hidden in food, in construction materials, compartments for goods in trucks and maritime containers.  Europol provided the necessary capacity and facilitated information sharing through its secure infrastructure. A dedicated team was constantly delivering operational, analytical and financial support during the entire investigation. In addition, Europol organised ten operational meetings and delivered 45 analytical products, including tailor-made analysis. During the final phase of the operation, a mobile office was deployed to support the command centre in the Netherlands. In Europe, the number of high-volume seizures of heroin concealed in trucks and maritime containers has increased significantly in the past years. The seizures often exceeds 1000 kg of heroin per single consignment. This has a significant impact on the availability of heroin on the EU illegal heroin market estimated by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) at €7.4 billion.  Afghanistan is the main producer of heroin - above 400 tonnes of heroin was produced in 2019, and up to 150 tonnes is estimated to be consumed in Europe. Meanwhile, the trafficking routes of heroin have diversified at the same time and in most cases the so-called Balkan route and Northern route are used. Concealment methods used include hiding heroin inside legal freight, often food or construction materials and hidden compartments of truck or containers.  

The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) and the Portuguese Civil Guard (Guardia Nacional Republicana) have broken up a criminal network trafficking ivory online.  The investigation led to the seizure of 355 ivory figurines and 2 tusks in Spain and Portugal, all worth about €120 000 on the black market. The operation, which was supported by Europol, resulted in the arrest of eight individuals suspected of crimes against wildlife. The ivory was sold online and at auction. The checks carried out during the investigation detected several companies involved and numerous invoices showing transactions from auctions. High demand fuels the illegal ivory trade The ivory trade is life-threatening for protected elephants and finances other serious criminal activities. Although banned since 1989, the illegal ivory trade has been on the rise over the past decade. The reason is the high demand for ivory items from China and other countries in Asia. Although other trade routes exist, ivory is mainly sourced from Africa and is sent through Europe towards its final destinations in Asia.  Both elephant species – the African elephant and the Asian elephant – are included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). To limit elephant poaching, fighting the trafficking of ivory has become a priority for the EU and EU Member States. Ivory is no longer exported from the EU, with the very few exceptions of scientific, enforcement or educational nature. This comes after a recommendation issued in 2017 by the European Commission to stop issuing export documents for raw ivory.  During the operation, Europol facilitated the information exchange and coordinated operational activities between involved national authorities. Europol’s experts also cross-checked operational information against Europol’s databases and provided analytical support to the Spanish and Portuguese authorities.  In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle o ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for the 2018 - 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Environmental crime is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

It is a common story: the signal bars disappears from their mobile phones, they call the phone number – it rings, but it’s not their phone ringing. They try to login to their bank account, but the password fails. They have become the newest victim of SIM swap fraud and their phone number is now in the control of a criminal.  SIM swap fraud is committed when a fraudster dupes the victim's mobile phone operator into porting the victim's mobile number to a SIM in the possession of the fraudster and so starts receiving any incoming calls and text messages, including banking one-time-passwords which are sent to the victim's phone number. The fraudster can then perform transactions, using credentials gathered by other techniques such as malware, and when the bank sends a one-time-password via SMS, the fraudster receives it and completes the authorisation of the transaction. With SIM swapping making the headlines in recent months, police across Europe has been gearing up against this threat, with two operations targeting SIM highjackers coming recently to fruition. Operation Quinientos Dusim Investigators from the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) together with the Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) and Europol targeted back in January suspects across Spain believed to be part of a hacking ring which stole over €3 million in a series of SIM swapping attacks. 12 individuals were arrested in Benidorm (5), Granada (6) and Valladolid (1). Composed of nationals between the ages of 22-52 years old from Italy, Romania, Colombia and Spain, this criminal gang struck over 100 times, stealing between €6,000 and €137,000 from bank accounts of unsuspecting victims per attack.  The modus operandi was simple, yet effective. The criminals managed the obtain the online banking credentials from the victims of the different banks by means of hacking techniques such as the use of banking Trojans or other types of malware. Once they had these credentials, the suspects would apply for a duplicate of the SIM cards of the victims, providing fake documents to the mobile service providers. With these duplicates in their possession, they would receive directly to their phones the second factor authentication codes the banks would send to confirm transfers. The criminals then proceeded to make fraudulent transfers from the victims’ accounts to money mule accounts used to hide their traces. All this was done in a very short period of time – between one or two hours – which is the time it would take for the victim to realise that his/her phone number was no longer working.  Operation Smart Cash  An eight-month long investigation between the Romanian National Police (Poliția Română) and the Austrian Criminal intelligence Service (Bundeskriminalamt) with the support of Europol has led to the arrest of 14 members of a crime gang who emptied bank accounts in Austria by gaining control over their victims’ phone numbers.  The suspects were arrested earlier in February in Romania in simultaneous warrants at their homes in Bucharest (1), Constanta (5), Mures (6), Braila (1) and Sibiu (1).  The thefts, which netted dozens of victims in Austria, were perpetrated by the gang in the spring of 2019 in a series of SIM swapping attacks.  Once having gained control over a victim’s phone number, this particular gang would then use stolen banking credentials to log onto a mobile banking application to generate a withdraw transaction which they then validated with a one-time password sent by the bank via SMS allowing them to withdraw money at cardless ATMs.  It is estimated that this gang managed to steal over half a million euros this way from unsuspecting bank account owners.  Both these cases were referred to Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) due to the demanding investigative measures run across borders. Its dedicated teams of specialists helped the national authorities build an up-to-date intelligence picture of the different criminal groups, facilitating the development of a joint strategy to target the criminals.     “Fraudsters are always coming up with new ways to steal money from the accounts of unsuspecting victims. Although seemingly innocuous, SIM swapping robs victims of more than just their phones: SIM highjackers can empty your bank account in a matter of hours. Law enforcement is gearing up against this threat, with coordinated actions happening across Europe,” said Fernando Ruiz, acting Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre. Don’t be the next victim So how can you prevent SIM swapping? Simplistically put, it all starts with identify theft. Criminals can get hold of your personal data by searching for it on social media, by attacking your device with malware that will grant them access to your sensitive data or through social engineering attacks such as phishing, vishing or smishing. Here are a few tips to help you stay one step ahead:   Keep your devices’ software up to date Do not click on links or download attachments that come with unexpected emails Do not reply to suspicious emails or engage over the phone with callers that request your personal information  Limit the amount of personal data you share online  Try to use two-factor authentication for your online services, rather than having an authentication code sent over SMS When possible, do not associate your phone number with sensitive online accounts Set up your own PIN to restrict access to the SIM card. Do not share this PIN with anyone.  If your phone loses reception suddenly in an area where you should have connectivity: Report the situation to your service provider If there are suspicious transactions in your bank account, contact the bank Immediately change all the passwords for your online accounts  Keep all evidence, in case you will need to contact the police  ​For more advice on how to protect your financial information from cyber scams, visit our dedicated page.

Website taken down and splash paged published by the Dutch Police and US Authorities. The site had more than 2,000 videos and images and advertised that it offered “real blackmail, rape and forced videos of girls all around the world.” In an international case, the Dutch Police (Politie), the Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD), Dutch National Prosecutor’s office (Openbaar Ministerie), US authorities (Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of Justice), the German Federal Criminal Police (Bundeskriminalamt) and Europol cooperated in an operation that led to the arrest of the administrator, and the takedown of the website DarkScandals. This site, available on both the dark web and clear web, featured violent rape videos and child abuse material.  Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) supported the investigation with analysis, information exchange and by providing technical expertise. Europol set up the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) in 2013 to strengthen the law enforcement response to cybercrime in the EU and thus to help protect European citizens, businesses and governments from online crime. Since its establishment, EC3 has made a significant contribution to the fight against cybercrime. On 9 March, the Dutch Police arrested the administrator of the website in his home in Barendrecht, the Netherlands for the possession and distribution of child abuse material. The Dutch National Prosecutor's Office of the Public Prosecution Service in the Netherlands (OM) and the Child Pornography and Child Sex Tourism team of the Police of The Hague had received intelligence from Europol and investigating authorities in the United States of America, to investigate and prosecute the individual and to take the DarkScandals website offline. DarkScandals hosted and distributed videos and images featuring non-consensual and violent sexual abuse. DarkScandals began operating about 2012 and boasted over 2,000 videos and images and advertised that it offered “real blackmail, rape and forced videos of girls all around the world.”  DarkScandals offered users two ways to access this illicit and obscene content, which was delivered in “packs” via email for customers to download.  Users could either pay for the video packs using cryptocurrency, or upload new videos to add to the content of the DarkScandals sites.  Specific rules for the video uploads to the sites included “real rape/forced” content, and stated a preference for “own made material.”  The site specifically forbade “fake, amateur…or acted movies,” rejecting content if it did not portray real sexual violence.  The arrested administrator allegedly received almost 2 million dollars from selling this obscene and illicit content. In addition to the arrest in the Netherlands, the administrator of DarkScandals was also indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia, USA for his operation of DarkScandals. The Dutch national was charged with various counts of Distribution of Child Pornography, Production and Transportation of Obscene Matters for Sale or Distribution, Engaging in the Business of Selling or Transferring Obscene Matter, and Laundering of Monetary Instruments. 

With the active support of Europol, the Slovak National Crime Agency (Národná Kriminálna Agentúra) has seized hundreds of illegal guns and ammunition, including decommissioned guns that had been restored to their full operation, as part of the Operational Taskforce LYNA. The Slovak police found the weapons in a series of house searches in the region of Košice and charged six individuals for their involvement in this illegal gun-running operation. The criminal syndicate under investigation specialised in the conversion of so-called Flobert guns into lethal live-firing ones. They are believed to have trafficked over 1500 firearms into the European criminal market. These actions were carried out back in December 2019, the details of which can now only be released due to operational reasons. The work from the Slovak National Crime Agency falls under the banner of a Europol Operational Taskforce between Slovakia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland. As part of this taskforce, several coordination meetings took place at Europol’s headquarters. Europol also deployed specialists to Slovakia to assist with the tactical work on the ground.  The evidence seized during the course of this action is now being analysed to identify further investigative leads across Europe.  Watch video

A large Balkan criminal network trafficking drugs, mainly cocaine, from source countries to Europe has been dismantled in a large international operation. This hit has severely disrupted one of the smuggling routes from Central America to Europe.  This complex international investigation was led by Montenegro and supported by Europol, and law enforcement authorities from Austria, Croatia, France, Portugal, Serbia and Slovenia.  On 10 March, law enforcement officers from Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia arrested eight members of the criminal group, one of which is believe to be its leader. The operational activities were also supported on the ground by two investigators from France and Portugal.  In total, 20 locations were searched (18 in Montenegro and two in Croatia and Serbia). Since the beginning of the operation in 2017, 12 individuals were arrested (one in Croatia, 8 in Montenegro, four in Portugal and one in Serbia) and five other suspects are awaiting to be charged.  The operation, launched in 2017 by Montenegro, led to the interception in 2018 in Portugal of a catamaran transporting large quantities of cocaine. The vessel was smuggling 840 kilogrammes of cocaine shipped from the Caribbean to Europe. Four crewmembers of Bosnian, Montenegrin and Serbian nationalities were then arrested. Europol facilitated the information exchange between the participating countries, provided coordination support and analysed operational information against Europol’s databases to give leads to investigators. Europol also supported financially the deployment of investigators on the field. The simultaneous operational activities in Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro were coordinated through a real-time virtual command application, which was set-up at Europol. This operation was a part of a broader European strategy against the Balkan Cartel and its top targets, which involves EU law enforcement authorities, Western Balkan countries and Europol.   In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for the 2018 - 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Drug trafficking is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

The so-called lover boy method entails the recruitment of a victim by establishing a fake romantic relationship between one of the members of the criminal network and a targeted potential victim of trafficking. Once the victim has fallen in love, the deception/involvement of the victim into criminal activity is much easier. When the victims of trafficking are young girls, the younger traffickers are mainly male and applying the lover boy method to recruit the victims. A large network exploiting young Romanian women was dismantled in Spain, Romania and the Czech Republic in a priority operation supported by Europol. The investigation involved law enforcement authorities from the Czech Republic, Romania, Spain and other European countries.  The operation resulted in the arrests of 14 suspects (7 in Romania and 7 in Spain), the safeguard of 10 victims and the seizures of cash, jewellery, high-end cars and digital equipment. During the coordinated operation, 16 house searches were carried out in the Czech Republic, Romania and Spain. Romanian members of the criminal network, using the “lover boy” method, were seducing young women and, creating a dependant manipulative relationship between victim and exploiter, forcing them into prostitution. Once under their influence, the victims were often drugged, threatened, abused and trafficked among the members of the network for up to €6 000 each. The women were also regularly moved from one location to another and one country to another as a strategy to minimise the risks of detection from law enforcement. Investigations are still on-going in other European countries where this network is believed to have been working together with another one. More than 40 more women have already been identified as victims of sexual exploitation of the two criminal networks. The criminal network was then laundering the money through the purchase of real estate, expensive jewellery and vehicles. The profit from the sexual exploitation was also used to create active checking accounts for drug use and gambling. Europol facilitated the information exchange between the participating countries, provided coordination support and analysed operational information against Europol’s databases to give leads to investigators. Europol conducted a financial analysis based on the information provided which highlighted the extension of the criminal activity of the group and the presence and flow of illicit profits to other jurisdictions.   Europol also provided on-the-spot operational support by deploying analysts to Spain and Romania, to provide real-time analytical support during the search and arrest phase of the operation. Watch the video In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for the 2018 - 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant.Trafficking in human beings is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

A key Vietnamese migrant smuggling network was broken up today after the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei), with the support of Europol, targeted suspects across the country, arresting 6 individuals. It is estimated that this criminal network facilitated the entry into Germany of almost 160 irregular migrants of Vietnamese origin, charging each migrant between €5000 and €20 000 for the journey.  The main bulk of today’s actions took place in the greater Berlin area, with house searches also carried out in the towns of Bühl (Baden-Württemberg), Koblenz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Neubrandenburg (Mecklenburg – Western Pomeria), Oschatz (Saxony), Weiterstadt and Wiesbaden (Hesse) and Zetel (Lower Saxony).  Under investigation since 2018, the criminal network provided migrants back in Vietnam with valid Schengen visas issued on false grounds using invitations provided by various companies controlled by the network in Germany and Romania. Once the migrants arrived in Europe, the network would arrange for their travel to Germany by means of private cars. There, the migrants were deprived of their personal belongings and kept in captivity against their will until they paid back their debts to the criminal network through unpaid work.  Europol supported this high-priority case by facilitating the international coordination and providing continuous operational assistance throughout the different stages of the investigation. Experts from its European Migrant Smuggling Centre were deployed on-the-spot during the action day to support the German authorities with the cross-checking of operational information.  “People involved in migrant smuggling are far from being benevolent individuals trying to help other people get a better life,“ said Robert Crepinko, Head of Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre. “They are ruthless criminals who will do everything to make money. This action today with the German authorities sends the clear message that Europol and its partners are determined to pursue those responsible for these terrible crimes.” The investigation as well as the analysis of the secured evidence are ongoing.   

The Mexican Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Europol are in talks to expand and deepen collaboration on security matters. Mexico was recently included in the list of priority partners with which Europol intends to establish cooperative relations. For the Government of Mexico collaboration with the European Union is essential to complement national capacities against transnational organised crime and, in particular, to curb the illicit flow of arms, their components, ammunition, and explosives. Consultations were initiated with a view to signing a Working Arrangement between the SSPC and Europol, pending the approval processes, in order to support the Member States of the European Union and Mexico in preventing and combating serious crime, terrorism, and other forms of criminal acts, in line with the Parties’ respective mandates. This is the result of the high priority given by both parties to international cooperation, as well as of the great interest of Mexico to work, via Europol, with the Member States of the European Union, as well as with the other countries and organisations represented at Europol.  

A cross-border criminal investigation into Indian nationals entering into bogus marriages for immigration purposes has led to the arrest on 26 February in Germany of the ringleader of the network.  The Schleswig-Holstein State Police (Landespolizei Schleswig-Holstein), working together with the State Criminal Police of Hamburg (Landeskriminalamtes Hamburg), the Lower Saxony Police (Polizei Niedersachsen) and the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) with the support of Europol carried out the arrest. Some 175 police officers were involved on that day on the ground and carried out 28 searches of private and commercial premises. The arrestee is a 44 years old Indian national from Elmshorn, Germany.This sting follows a lengthy investigation initiated back in 2018 looking into the activities of this criminal group involved in the facilitation of illegal immigration by organising sham marriages, predominantly between Indian and Romanian nationals using forged documents. The husbands were then permitted to stay in Germany, obtained resident permits and illegally profited from social and other benefits.  This action is a follow-up of a parallel investigation for which an action day took place in Greece last year. There, the Hellenic Police (Ελληνική Αστυνομία) swooped on a criminal network involved in the massive production and distribution of falsified or forged documents to third country nationals. 4 individuals were arrested in the region of Attica on 19-20 June. Such documents were shipped through courier companies. These two parallel investigations narrowed down on the same individual in Germany who was receiving a large amount of these parcels containing fake documents to facilitate sham marriages. This subsequently led to his arrest this week.  In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for the 2018 - 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Facilitation of illegal immigration is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

Since 2018, the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) has been investigating two football agents linked to one of the most relevant player representation agencies in Europe. They are suspected of money laundering and tax evasion. The operation, supported by Europol and in cooperation with the Spanish Tax Agency, led to five prosecutions. In the following weeks, several dozen will be called for court hearings. €10 million in profit from fake transfers of football players laundered in luxury assets in Spain On 18 February 2020, several raids were carried out across Spain in properties linked to the suspects. The investigation uncovered that the prominent football agents were organising fictitious transfers of football players through a Cypriot football club to launder a large amount of money and evade taxes. The player transfers were only made on paper and with the sole purpose of evading taxes from the lucrative business and serve as a reason for the large money transfers. This undue profit was then turned into assets which the agents owned under a corporate name to conceal their identity. After the ghost transfers were made, the suspects were using a very sophisticated network of companies to acquire assets, while hiding their ownership. At least €10 million was put back into Spain through the purchasing of luxury assets including real estate and yachts. A Maltese “gatekeeper” tax adviser company was helping the agents and their criminal network in setting up the corporate veils to conceal the money flow and true owners of the assets.   The investigation uncovered that the football agents were part of a criminal network which manages football clubs in several countries, among which are Belgium, Cyprus and Serbia.    These ghost player transfers were first revealed through social media and the 2016 investigation on football leaks.    Europol facilitated the information exchange and coordinated the operational activities between involved national authorities. Europol’s experts also provided analytical and specialist support throughout the investigation and on the spot during the action day.   In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. This multiannual Policy Cycle aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU in a coherent and methodological manner. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Money laundering is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

On 13 and 14 February 2020, the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) dismantled an organised crime group involved in illegal cigarette manufacturing and drug trafficking. Europol supported the operation, which also involved the Lithuanian Customs Criminal Service (Muitinės kriminalinė tarnyba), Polish Police Central Bureau of Investigation (Centralne Biuro Śledcze Policji) and law enforcement authorities from the United Kingdom. Tabaco, beds and pillows  The operation uncovered a full range of production facilities operated by the criminal group. Law enforcement authorities raided the primary production facility where the raw tobacco was cut and prepared for the second production phase. The Spanish law enforcement officers uncovered the manufacturing facility hidden in a bunker four metres underground. In the facility, believed to have been operating since 2019, workers made and packed the counterfeit cigarettes; a complete production line under one roof. Beds and living quarters for the workers were also found underground. This is the first underground factory to be discovered in the EU. Workers there were forced to work in extremely dangerous and toxic conditions. Locked up four metres underground, they were not allowed to leave the facility on their own, and no emergency security was in place. Similar cases uncovered that criminals blindfold the workers when taking them to and from the factory. Although paid for their work in the facility, workers are usually not allowed to leave or make contact with others while working. Criminals often even seal the premises to enforce this. These illegal activities are estimated to bring in about €625 000 per week in criminal profits.    Cannabis plantation also dismantled  During the raids, law enforcement officers searched 13 locations and arrested 20 people, suspected of being members of the criminal group. One of them is believed to be the leader of the organisation.   The production line and the criminal group has been dismantled with seizures including: over 3 million counterfeit cigarettes; 20kg of hashish; 144kg of marijuana; 3 weapons; 8 GPS tracking devices; 1 jamming device. The cigarettes were made in unsanitary conditions and of low-quality components. The criminal group distributed the cigarettes on the European black market, estimated to represent about 46.3 billion cigarettes in 2018. The same studies mention that this costs EU governments about €10 billion a year in lost revenue. Europol facilitated the information exchange between the participating countries, provided coordination support and analysed operational information against Europol’s databases to give leads to investigators. Europol also provided on-the-spot operational support by deploying two analysts to Malaga, Spain, to provide real-time analytical support.  

After a successful first edition at Europol in June 2019, the second staff exchange initiative between the four parties to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – the European Defence Agency (EDA), CERT-EU, the EU Cybersecurity Agency (ENISA) and Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), took place from 17 to 20 February 2020.  As part of the MoU partners’ Roadmap 2020-2021, this programme seeks to promote a better mutual understanding of respective priorities, practices and to deepen the working relationships across the respective organisations.  Jointly hosted by EDA and CERT-EU in Brussels, the experts focused on strategic developments in cyber defence, trained in threat hunting and met with industry representatives.  Olli Ruutu, EDA’s Acting Chief Executive said “The staff exchange is an excellent opportunity to share views and knowledge and further improve our common understanding of the work done by our respective entities. It is also a special moment for thinking outside the box with like-minded colleagues. There is a lot to be taken away from these staff exchanges which fully reflect the collaborative spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding we concluded in May 2018 to leverage synergies between our four organisations and promoting cooperation on cybersecurity and cyber defence.” Saâd Kadhi, Head of CERT-EU said “This second staff exchange builds on the achievements of the one before. It will continue to improve the mutual understanding and cooperation between our organisations, ultimately leading to better collective cyber defence.” Juhan Lepassaar, ENISA’s Executive Director said “The EU Cybersecurity Agency welcomes the staff exchange initiative hosted by EDA and CERT-EU and sees this as a fruitful, knowledge-sharing exercise that fosters increased collaboration between the signatories.” Fernando Ruiz, acting Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre said: “The close cooperation and knowledge sharing between our entities contribute to building a robust European cyber defence. This staff exchange initiative, hosted by the European Defence Agency and CERT-EU, will strengthen the capabilities of our experts to effectively tackle the cyber threat and protect EU citizens, businesses and organisations.”  

A ruthless gang of metal thieves believed to have caused over €1 million of damage to the French national railway company (SNCF) has been dismantled following a series of coordinated actions across Romania on 12 February with the active involvement of Europol.  16 house searches were carried out in four different regions of Romania, as a result of which one suspect was arrested and three placed under judicial control. These arrests follow the ones in France of 9 other members of this criminal syndicate in October last year.   This sting is the result of a year-long investigation by the French Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) and the Romanian National Police (Poliția Română) looking into the activities of this criminal network believed to be very prolific: the network is linked to 57 cases of theft of approximately 1 000 metal components of locomotives weighing 38 tonnes.   As a result of the house searches on the action day, €10 000 in cash was recovered and crucial evidence seized in order to support the charges in the French investigation.  Europol supported the involved authorities with analytical expertise and deployed an expert on the ground in Romania to support the local investigators with the crosschecking of data against Europol’s databases. In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. This multiannual Policy Cycle aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU in a coherent and methodological manner. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Property crime is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

Working together with young people is one of the best ways to stop them from falling victim to crimes like sexual extortion and coercion, cyberbullying, grooming and sexting, online fraud, counterfeit goods and identity theft. Protecting new generations in a cyber world full of threats is a top priority for law enforcement all over Europe. Europol wanted to hear how our children use the internet, so on international Safer Internet Day we invited over 150 students to our headquarters. Pupils came from international and Dutch schools in and around The Hague to celebrate the third European Youth Day at Europol. This year’s theme was ‘Together for a better internet’. On offer was a whole range of activities, presentations and masterclasses with Europol experts and highly experienced cyber professionals. Pupils also took part in workshops and hands-on interactive experiences where they could jump into a police officer’s shoes and follow clues or help two forensic cyber specialists crack a case. Pupils could make the most of our cyber escape room where they had to find a suspect, and a CSI experience where pupils played the part of a cyber squad to help cyber forensic specialists solve an investigation. For this event, Europol worked together with different partners such as Dutch Safer Internet Centre, Dutch Helpline (Expertisebureau Online Kindermisbruik), Dutch High Tech Crime Unit, The Hague police, Twente University, Hack in the Class, Cybersafety4u, LFE management & events, Palo Alto Networks and KPN.  Two years ago, Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) launched the European Youth Day at Europol, an innovative project to amplify the voices of children in the area of online safety.  Two key dates were highlighted: the adoption of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Day of the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.  

Europol supported the Central Narcotics Unit and the Central Money Laundering Unit of regional Catalan police (Mossos D’esquadra) in arresting 14 members of an international criminal organisation trafficking cocaine and laundering money. Ten members of the criminal organisation have been sent to prison. Different ways to launder the money The investigation began in December 2018 when 1 413kg of cocaine was found at a company near Barcelona. The drugs were hidden inside 800 boxes of A4 paper that came from Brazil. The true content of the boxes was only discovered when a company employee took one of the boxes and dropped it by accident. Two people were arrested in Spain and the investigation revealed that ten people had been smuggling drugs from Brazil as part of a  criminal organisation.  To launder the money they gained from drug trafficking, the suspects created a whole business structure with different companies, such as real estate investments or fashion stores in Barcelona. Another way to launder money was to use people (‘mulas’) that periodically made small cash deposits at several bank branches. 14 searches and 2 marijuana plantations dismantled On 4 February the regional Catalan police carried out 13 simultaneous house and company searches to dismantle the structure of this smuggling organisation, and, together with the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), carried out one house search on the Balearic Island of Mahon. Money in several currencies, mobile phones, four simulated weapons, three cars, two motorcycles and several properties were all seized and two marijuana plantations were dismantled. Two Europol experts were deployed for on-the-spot support to extract data from the mobile phones of two of the detainees. A member of Spain’s Europol National Unit also assisted during the action day.

The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), supported by Europol and the Spanish Central Prosecutor Unit for Environment and Urbanism (Fiscalía de Medio Ambiente y Urbanismo), cracked down on a large criminal network involved in environmental crime and money laundering. The criminal group, was stealing waste and trafficking it to Southeast Asia and isbelieved to have generated about €16 million loss for the municipality of Madrid. From waste management to waste trafficking  The investigation focused on a company, based in Madrid, which was specialised in waste management. Since 2015, the company was organising illegal collection of paper and paperboard in the city. This waste was then mixed with legally collected waste, in breach of the regulative framework, before being shipped to Southeast Asia, mainly to China, India, Indonesia and South Korea.  The investigation into this very well structured criminal network uncovered 9 300 tonnes of paper worth €2.3 million. In addition, 278 illegal shipments with 67 000 tonnes of waste worth €10 million were also discovered. On the action day, the Spanish authorities seized 11 truckswhich the criminal network used for the theft of waste from municipal containers while causing damage to public property. The operation led to the arrests of 42 individuals suspected to be part of the criminal network. Safer environment with strict EU regulations on waste EU regulation establishes a strict procedure for the transport of waste from one Member State to another and to countries outside of the EU. The surveillance and control of such shipments insure the preservation of the environment. Europol facilitated the information exchange between involved national authorities. Europol’s experts also cross-checked operational information against Europol’s databases and provided analytical support to the Spanish authorities.    Watch Video In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. This multiannual Policy Cycle aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU in a coherent and methodological manner. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Environmental crime is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

Today, 25 suspects tied to an Albanian-speaking organised crime network were arrested during a simultaneous operation carried out in Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and France which saw the involvement of over 600 police officers on the ground.  This cross-border sting follows a complex investigation initiated in 2017 by the Belgian Antwerp Local Police (Politiezone Antwerpen), in cooperation with the Belgian Federal Police (Federale Politie), Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), the Dutch Police (Politie), the French Judicial Police (Police Judiciaire) and the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt), Sachsen-Anhalt State Police (Landespolizei Sachsen-Anhalt) and the Joint Drugs Investigation Group of the State Criminal Police Office of Saxony-Anhalt and the Customs Office of Hannover (Gemeinsame Ermittlungsgruppe Rauschgift des Landeskriminalamtes Sachsen-Anhalt und des Zollfahndungsamtes Hannover).  The investigation led by the Antwerp Local Police uncovered that the drugs were being smuggled hidden in containers into Belgium before being distributed further throughout Europe by using vehicles equipped with sophisticated hidden compartments. The same criminal group is also believed to have been managing cannabis plantations in Spain and Germany where they cultivated and processed the marijuana, before it was transferred to other European countries for further sale and distribution.  To this day, this operation has resulted in:  9 arrests in Belgium, 6 arrests in Spain, 3 arrests in the Netherlands, 6 arrests in Germany and a further one arrest in France, bringing the total number of arrests to 25; Some 30 house searches; 6 marijuana plantations dismantled; the seizure of €60 000 in cash, mobile phones, handguns and ammunition.   The alleged mastermind of this network features among those arrested in Belgium by a tactical squad of the Antwerp Local Police.  This clan-based organised crime group was hierarchically structured, with branches operating internationally. Some of its members arrested today have a history of drug trafficking in different countries.  Europol supported this investigation by providing tailored expertise and extensive analysis support and facilitating the exchange of information through its secure channels. A number of operational meetings were organised by Europol all over Europe with a view to filling the investigative gaps at the international level and coordinating the simultaneous actions aimed at dismantling the entire structure of this criminal group. On the action day, two Europol experts were deployed on the spot in Belgium and one in Spain to allow for the real-time exchange of information and crosschecks of the data gathered in the course of the action against Europol’s databases. Eurojust assisted in the execution of European Investigation Orders and Letters of Request among the involved parties.   This investigation is part of the Italian Direzione Investigativa Antimafia (DIA) Project @ON network, an initiative to tackle mafia-type organised crime groups active in Europe. The project was launched at Europol’s headquarters in 2018 and comprises 15 Member States and Europol. The @ON network, with its EU-funded Project ONNET which aims to finance the relevant operational activities, targets the mafia-type structured criminal groups in their entirety, rather than one or more of their specific criminal activities. Within the framework of this project, three Italian antimafia experts were deployed to the command centre in Belgium for this particular operation to support the various operations happening in the field.  Such operational achievements as the one today follow the increasing engagement of European law enforcement authorities to tackle Albanian-speaking organised crime. Back in November 2019, in the framework of the @ON Project, experts on this type of criminality convened in Antwerp, Belgium, to discuss how to better tackle these poly-criminal mafia-type clans.   

Europol supported a massive crackdown on illegal IPTV distributors in an operation executed by the Cybercrime Unit of the Bulgarian General Directorate Combating Organised Crime (Главна Дирекция Борба с Организираната Престъпност) of the Ministry of Interior and led by the Bulgarian Supreme Prosecutor’s Office of Cassation. This has been Bulgaria’s third successful operation, supported by Europol against illegal IPTV distributors in the past year. The investigation targeted six companies active in the Bulgarian cities of Sofia and Varna and the region of Burgas. The national authorities carried out 17 house searches and seized a large number of documents and digital information. The examination of the evidence concluded that at least 30 000 people were subscribed to the illegally distributed signal. One of the six companies involved was fined €650 000. Following this action, six pre-trial proceedings were opened.  Europol’s Intellectual Property Crime Coordination Coalition (IPC3) supported the investigation on the ground by deploying two experts to Bulgaria. Europol officers exchanged information in real-time and cross-checked operational data gathered against Europol’s databases. The operational deployment, handled by Europol’s IPC3, was partly funded by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Watch video

Law enforcement authorities from 23 EU Member States struck a blow at organised crime groups involved in fuel fraud by arresting 59 individuals in a year-long operation. The joint operation was supported by Europol as part of the European multidisciplinary platform against criminal threats (EMPACT). Including the arrests, the operation led to: 5.2 million litres of designer fuel seized (worth in around €6.8 million ); 78 tractor units, 78 trailer units (heavy goods vehicles) and 3 vans seized; 93 investigations initiated; 59 people arrested; €39.2 million in revenue loss prevented; €331 000 and other assets (properties, luxury vehicles, etc.) seized; 186 bank accounts frozen; 4 weapons and telescopic sights seized; 1 jamming device seized; 11 ISO tank containers seized; illegal fuel filling stations and equipment for fuel distribution seized. The operation, led by the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal, NTCA) and the Slovak Financial Administration (Finančná správa Slovenskej republiky), began in early 2019, based on intelligence on the modus operandi, routes, types of products and economic operators involved in this particular type of fuel fraud. Growing designer fuel phenomenon  Fuel fraud is a growing phenomenon and typically involves base-oil fraud, also known as designer fuel fraud. This type of fraud requires relevant expertise and is usually only available from trained chemists. Designer fuel is a mixed product, which in some cases is exempt from tax in the EU. To avoid that the fuel is subject to excise regime once on the market, criminals produce a mixture of gas oil and other added compounds to modify the final physical features of the product, and they can sell it in the black market. Europol’s Analysis Project (AP) Smoke has supported the operation throughout with SIENA (Europol’s secure platform for information exchange) and facilitating international cooperation between the involved Member States, running cross-checks and providing analytical support and operational expertise. The Customs Cooperation Working Party (CCWP) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) also supported the initiative. National highlights:  LATVIA: in May and June 2019, 22 cargo vessels were checked, 3 shipments (containin 26 111kg of designer fuel and 32 571kg of a liquid similar to ethanol) and 6 vehicles were seized and  3 individuals were arrested by the Latvian Tax and Customs Police Department. ITALY: in October 2019, complex investigative work performed by the Italian Finance Corps (Guardia di Finanza) resulted in the apprehension of 6 individuals, the seizure of over 86 000 litres of designer fuel and 12 vehicles, and the dismantling of huge storage facilities in the province of Naples.  POLAND: in November 2019, the Polish Police (Policjia) conducted a large-scale joint operation in cooperation with the National Revenue Administration of PL (KAS); preliminary analysis was performed in cooperation with Slovakia. 250 officers from police, customs and tax administration participated in the action. Perpetrators used intermediate bulk containers, from which they re-pumped designer fuels into tanks and subsequently sold them as fuel. There were more than 80 companies involved in the fraud and 14 people were arrested. In Poznan, suspects were accused of being members of an organised crime group, money laundering and other crimes. One of them was additionally charged with being the leader of the criminal gang.  SLOVAKIA: 16 000 litres of illicit fuel, 5 vehicles, technical equipment and documents showing shipments of up to 348 000 litres of illicit oil were seized by the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic. Following seven searches of houses and storage units, four members of an organised crime group were arrested. Four weapons, signal jammers as well the vehicle’s licence plate (for which a search warrant had been issued) were also found and seized. (Read more)

On 2 February 2020, a law enforcement operation supported by Europol saw the arrest of eight individuals suspected of smuggling migrants from Greece to Italy using sailing vessels. Operation Odyssey led by the Organised Crime Unit of the Hellenic Police (Ελληνική Αστυνομία), together with the Hellenic Coast Guard (Λιμενικό Σώμα-Ελληνική Ακτοφυλακή) and the British National Crime Agency (NCA) began in autumn 2019.  Four children among the victims On the day before the operation, the Hellenic Coast Guard detected a vessel with a group of migrants from the coast of Attica in Greece headed to Italy. The boat was stopped and two members of the criminal group were arrested, it was then when the investigators found 19 migrants on board, including four minors. At the same time, six more suspects were arrested in various areas of Attica.  It is believed that the highly structured organised crime group had been in operation since at least November 2019. The criminals bought vessels and identified migrants who wanted to travel to Italy, charging around €4 000 each.  On the action day, the following were confiscated:         a sailing vessel and a small boat;  maps and high-tech GPS navigators; digital storage means and mobile phones; €2 500 and various money transfer receipts; documents for purchasing vessels; two vehicles. Experts from Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC), deployed to Greece, provided continuous operational assistance, tailored analytical support and cross-checking of operational information against Europol’s databases.  In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. This multiannual Policy Cycle aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU in a coherent and methodological manner. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Facilitation of illegal immigration is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

On 19 November 2019, the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) dismantled an organised criminal group specialised in migrant smuggling using speedboats from Algeria and Morocco to Europe. The operation, which was supported by Europol, led to 26 arrests for facilitating illegal immigration. The investigators have obtained two clear statements from a number of the suspects proving their involvement in these criminal activities. From January 2019, the organised crime group allegedly smuggled around 850 Algerian nationals and around 50 Moroccan nationals into Spain. The suspects had links with other European countries, such as Belgium, France, and Sweden. The group is also suspected of trafficking tobacco and forged documents into Spain. The total turnover of the criminal organisation is estimated to be €1.5 million. The results in numbers:  17 vehicles confiscated;  €20 000 in cash seized; a considerable number of mobile phones seized; How Europol supported the operation: intelligence analysis products identifying members of the criminal organisation; mobile office deployment during the action day: all the operational data from arrests, house searches and seizures were cross-checked live, with real-time results; forensic extractions of the phones performed at Europol’s headquarters and the results shared and fully analysed by EMSC experts. One-year waiting list for a three-hour speedboat journey  Before the boats left Algeria, the organisers and skippers themselves contacted their associates in Spain to provide them with logistical details, such as the expected places of arrival, the approximate time and the number of migrants.  The boats mainly departed from  near the coastal city of Oran. It took the speedboats approximately three hours to cross the Alboran Sea and reach Spain. Upon arrival, the migrants received specific instructions on how to move further inland and how to find  safe places to hide without being found out. The migrants waited almost one year for the chance to make the journey across the Alboran Sea. Each migrant was charged between €2 000 and €2 500 for the sea crossing and an additional €500 to be transported away from ports in Spain. The smuggling gang earned a considerable amount of money from this criminal activity. The lucrative purpose of the criminal group is highlighted by the fact that the migrants – who lacked sufficient economic means to reach their final destination – were abandoned on motorways or held in houses owned by the organisation until the migrants paid the agreed amount.  The organisation increased its income by helping Moroccan migrants obtain residence permits through false complaints of gender-based violence. For these services every woman paid €9 000. Joint Operational Team Mare and the Information Clearing House Joint Operational Team (JOT) Mare and the Information Clearing House received information on this organised crime group from Frontex. The information was processed, analysed and put into context through social media intelligence searches, open-source intelligence investigations and cooperation with Frontex, building the case from scratch together with the Spanish authorities. JOT Mare and the Information Clearing House promoted the use of Frontex’s Eurosur Fusion Services to coordinate and exploit the intelligence gathered from the boats’ departure points.   Watch video

The French National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) in collaboration with the Belgian Federal Judicial Police (Police Judiciaire Fédérale) and the Israeli Police, supported by Europol and Eurojust, have brought down a large network of investment fraudsters. The criminal group was involved in money laundering and binary investment fraud.  Fake websites and bogus companies to fraud investors In the beginning of 2019, four suspects were arrested in France, three of which were detained. At the end of 2019, five other suspects were arrested and questioned in Israel with the support of an international Operational Task Force set-up by Europol bringing together Belgian, French and Israeli investigators and magistrates. More than one million euros have already been seized from the fraudsters’ accounts. A French-Israeli citizen who has already been convinced of massif fraud related to carbon tax is suspected to be the mastermind. The investigation into this criminal network, active in Belgium and France and controlled by an Israeli branch, started in 2018. The criminal organisation managed to set-up a sophisticated system promising big gains on investments in bitcoin, gold and diamonds. The suspects were offering their financial services on online platforms. The criminal network also set up bogus companies as a part of their money laundering scheme.   No real easy gains  The suspects were promising between 5 and 35% return on investment. They then proceeded to pretend to manage the victims’ wallets and invite them to invest more money. To increase the confidence in their services, they were paying some of the victims the interests on their investments. Once the victims were won over, the fraudsters would offer bigger opportunities, which required higher amounts to be invested. A big French private company and a French local authority are among the victims of this network. The investments of the victims were placed on accounts in different EU Member States before being transferred to other international accounts.  The network is believed to be responsible for frauds which amount to at least €6 million. The investigators have also discovered invoices for few million euros, which the fraudsters had not yet finalised. Europol supported the investigation since 2018 and facilitated the information exchange between the participating countries. A Europol Operation Task Force between investigators and magistrates from Belgium, France and Israel to increase the operational cooperation between the countries involved in the investigation. Europol provided also analytical and technical support and deployed an expert on-the-spot to cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases and thus, provide leads to investigators.      In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. This multiannual Policy Cycle aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU in a coherent and methodological manner. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Fraud and money laundering are two of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

A 40-year-old Romanian national, who was wanted by the British authorities since June 2019, was arrested earlier this month in Turin, Italy, by the Italian Carabinieri (Arma dei Carabinieri -Comando Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale).  The suspect was one of the masterminds behind the theft in 2017 of 260 antique books in the United Kingdom worth an estimated €2 million. These antique books were stored in a warehouse with their owners’ permission, to be shipped for display at a book fair in Los Angeles. The books included rare first edition of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.  The 15 other members of the criminal organisation to which he belonged were arrested earlier last year in a coordinated operation between the British Metropolitan Police, the Romanian National Police (Poliția Română) and the Italian Carabinieri, supported by Europol and Eurojust.   

The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) in cooperation with the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt) and supported by Europol arrested 16 individuals of this violent street gang for trafficking drugs in Spain. The investigation began when the police officers detected a nightclub on the Spanish island of Mallorca, following similar clubs in the country, where some of their members worked in the security teams, which helped the gang to hide their illegal drug activity. The control of the drug market in the area where they set up the nightclub led them to violent confrontations with other criminal drug traffickers operating on the island.  Criminals impersonated police officers to steal from rival drug traffickers The investigations reveal that the criminals would not hesitate to impersonate police officers to stop and steal the substances trafficked by other criminal gangs, using violence or intimidation using several firearms. The structure of this organisation was similar to the one used by other well-known biker groups, such as Hells Angels or Satudarah: each member has a role and they customise their physical appearance with rituals, leather vests, military patches or tattoos. The profits earned by carrying out their illegal activities were used to fund extreme right-wing groups, especially Hooligans and Neo-Nazis.  A chem lab discovered during the searches During the 18 searches carried out, the police officers found out a chemistry lab where the criminals produced ketamine. Several chemical products, obtained in central Europe, were seized. Thanks to this action, the police were able to stop the 1.5 litres of a liquid made by amphetamine. Cocaine, marijuana and anabolic substances were also seized during the searches, alongside diverse police equipment and GPS beacons to check up on rival criminal organisations. Europol supported the Spanish National Police in this operation by deploying two mobile offices for on-the-spot support during the action days.  

A large-scale drug trafficking organisation linked to Colombian and Peruvian cartels was dismantled in Spain and Colombia in an international law enforcement operation. Europol supported the two-year-long investigation, led by the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) in close collaboration with the National Police of Colombia and the US DEA.  In total 11 Spanish nationals were arrested in Tenerife (Spain) and a Colombian national – in Cali (Colombia) – is currently awaiting extradition to Spain. €2 million in assets have been seized so far. The investigation was triggered by information on large cash movements in Tenerife, money laundering-related intelligence shared via international cooperation. Caravans with cocaine were travelling to the Canary Islands  The Spanish branch of the network was distributing the cocaine delivered in bulk from South America. The suspects concealed the drugs in caravans travelling between the Canary Islands. A seizure of 60kg of cocaine hidden in a mobile home was made during one of these transfers. To cover up their criminal activities, the suspects used legal businesses. The criminal networks owned vehicle dealerships, auto repair shops and managed long-term caravan parks. These legal businesses provided the criminals with cover to transport the vehicles and launder money. The intermediary, a Colombian living in Cali oversaw the trafficking from South America to Spain. Cocaine’s new route One part of the investigation focused on a Ghanaian citizen. This allowed the investigators to gather evidence on the “African route” of cocaine. This emerging transit route is used by South American drug cartels to send large shipments to Europe. The drugs travel through the west coast of Africa, where they are stored before going to Spanish coasts. Africa has a growing role as a trafficking and transit area, a new trend identified in the 2019 EU Drug Markets Report by Europol and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Tracing money movements to catch drug traffickers Europol supported the investigation from its very beginning by assisting the coordination of the operational activities between the countries involved and by facilitating the information exchange and operational analysis. Europol also provided technical and analytical support and facilitated the exchange of judicial evidence collected during the house searched carried out in Colombia.  On the action day, Europol deployed two experts on the field to cross-check operational information in real-time and provide technical support on the spot. Watch video In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. This multiannual Policy Cycle aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU in a coherent and methodological manner. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Drug trafficking and money laundering are two of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

The French Border Guard together with the French National Police (Police nationale) and the  Dutch Royal Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee), supported by Europol and Eurojust, dismantled a large criminal network involved in migrant smuggling.  On the action day, law enforcement authorities arrested 23 suspected members of the criminal network (19 in France and 4 in the Netherlands), carried out five searches and seized firearms and vehicles. Irregular migrants discovered during the searches were brought to safety. Up to €7 000 for a spot in a refrigerated lorry The criminal network is suspected of having facilitated the transportation of around 10 000 Afghan, Iranian, Iraqi-Kurdish and Syrian migrants from the French areas of Le Mans and Poitiers to the United Kingdom. The migrants were transported in life-threatening conditions, concealed in refrigerated – often-overcrowded – lorries (up to 20 migrants in a lorry). The migrants paid up to €7 000 for the dangerous journey. The payments were collected via an undercover hawala banking system run by a suspect established in the Netherlands. In total, the criminal gang is suspected to have gained around €70 million in profit from their illegal activities.  Europol supported this high-priority case by organising two operational meetings, facilitating the information exchange and providing tailored analytical support. On the action day, Europol deployed two experts on-the-spot, one in France and one in the Netherlands, to cross-check operational information in real-time. This case was also developed as part of EMPACT JOT Dunqett operational action.    In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. This multiannual Policy Cycle aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU in a coherent and methodological manner. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Migrant smuggling is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

The most dangerous phrase in business is “we've always done it this way.” Creative thinkers in the past have always changed the world with their fresh and innovative thoughts. People like Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein connected experiences and observations and created a new world view. In its core, creativity is all about connecting things in a new way.  And yes, the times they are changing and technology has always changed our lives. Think of the invention of the printing press, the light bulb, the automobile or the mobile phone. However, in the 21st century, technology is transforming almost every aspect of our lives at an unprecedented pace and scale, creating new challenges. The annual meeting in Davos is engaging world leaders to find creative solutions to these global challenges.  I am attending Davos for the second year and many of the challenges facing law enforcement are reflected in the Davos agenda. Being here is the perfect opportunity to speak to business leaders on behalf of the law enforcement community to find solutions. On my agenda are three areas, for which I see a need for innovative and cross-disciplinary thinking: Environmental concerns are at the top of the list of global concerns. The more we regulate to protect the environment, the more criminals will seek to exploit black markets for profit. The role of law enforcement will be increasingly vital to uphold new and existing laws to protect the environment; not least the ambitious measures of the EU’s ‘Green Deal’ announced recently by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Currently, Europol supports 400 environmental cases of serious and organised international crime. Cybercrime is an area where public-private cooperation with the business world is essential to Europol’s work. Most of the internet infrastructure is privately owned and too often, the inability to directly receive personal data from private parties is at the core of a number of issues for law enforcement. On the other hand, cybersecurity practitioners have led the way in developing close cooperation, with tech companies lending their expertise to help law enforcement prevent and investigate crime online.  The role of the private sector is also obvious in financial crime because financial institutions have to protect themselves from abuse by money launderers and various kinds of fraud. Unlike the cybercrime field, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism are heavily regulated. Law enforcement and banks are keen to re-focus on the core purpose, which is to catch criminals and terrorists and stop their money flows. At Europol, we will launch the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC) to pay greater attention to financial and economic crime and criminal asset seizures, making sure crime doesn’t pay.  The common theme in all of these topics is the need for diverse actors to work together, to connect their expertise and to find creative solutions. This means working across sectors and working across borders – the specialities of the World Economic Forum and Europol. For me, Davos is all about finding innovative, new ways to tackle global threats. By the end of the week, we will have fresh input, feeding our ambition to continue making Europe and the world safer.

Europol supported a pan-European operation targeting the illicit online and offline trafficking of misused and counterfeit medicines. The operation was led by Finnish Customs (Tulli) and the Central office against environmental and public health crime  of the French National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale, Office central de lutte contre les atteintes à l'environnement et à la santé publique) and involved law enforcement authorities from 11* EU Member States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). The operation took place between 15 and 18 October 2019, the results of which can only be released now for operational reasons. The joint Europe-wide actions, coordinated in real-time from the coordination centre set-up at Europol, led to: the disruption of six organised crime groups;  112 house searches;  the arrests of 48 suspects in Cyprus, Finland, France, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom; the seizure of around 34.5 million units of medicines and doping products, and other substances such as antihistamines, anxiolytics, erectile dysfunction medicines, hormone and metabolic regulators, narcotics, painkillers, antioestrogens, antivirals, and hypnotics. The seizures are estimated to be worth around €2.6 million.  Treat a cold or go cold turkey: medicine misused to stimulate addictions Criminals misuse pseudoephedrine – an active substance of medicine generally used to treat colds to make methamphetamine – a very addictive synthetic drug. Drug addicts use psychotropics, which are mostly made from hypnotic medicines, to replace opioid drugs like heroin. Pseudoephedrine and psychotropic medicines were among the biggest seizures made on the action days. Stolen with fake medical prescriptions or acquired with the collaboration of complacent doctors and pharmacists, most of these medicines were diverted from the legitimate supply chain. Several thousands of the seized medicines were falsified. The misuse and falsification of medicines is a serious and growing problem that needs to be tackled at European level. Organised crime groups are increasingly turning to this highly profitable crime area marked by relatively low risks of detection and criminal charges.  * The following EU Member States participated to the Joint Action Days: Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and the United Kingdom  

The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), supported by Europol, has dismantled an organised crime group selling horsemeat which was deemed unsuitable for human consumption. The criminal organisation – active in the province of Barcelona – falsified documents to support their illegal activities. Law enforcement also carried out searches in various horse stables in Catalonia. Farms, cattle dealers and vets also involved Officers from the Spanish Environment Protection Service (SEPRONA) detected that the horsemeat unfit for human consumption on the market came from 300 horses slaughtered in slaughterhouses. The documents of more than 10 000 horses were checked during the searches. The operation resulted in the arrests of 15 suspects and the investigation of 13 others. The investigation led to the seizure of 185 falsified horse passports and the detection of 100 other horses uncompliant with food market regulations.  The members of the criminal network, active since 2015, falsified the horse passports in slaughterhouses and farms in the province of Barcelona. The seized false documents confirmed that the organised crime group could have been responsible for introducing meat from hundreds of slaughtered animals onto the market, which failed to comply with national and European regulations. The slaughterhouse, several livestock farms, cattle dealers and veterinarians were all involved in the criminal activities. Europol supported the investigation with operational coordination and facilitation of the information exchange. 

On 10 December 2019, the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), supported by Europol, dismantled an organised crime group involved in the facilitation of illegal immigration by arranging sham unmarried partnerships in Spain. The partnerships of convenience were set up to ensure legal permanent permits of residence for irregular migrants. The operation led to 11 searches of properties and companies, 30 arrests and the seizures of a luxury car, over €10 000 in cash and a high number of documents. Solid evidence of facilitation of illegal immigration and document fraud was found during the searches.  From €8 000 to €12 000 for a registered partnership The organised crime group recruited Spanish women willing to be part of unmarried partnerships. Non-EU migrants, wanting to migrate or formalise their stay in Europe, acquired similar rights of EU citizens through the fraudulent partnerships with the Spanish women. Each migrant had to pay between €8 000 and €12 000 for this service. The woman in these pretend partnerships were paid €3 000 for their “I do” as a pretend partner.  The members of this highly complex organised crime group owned several shell companies and were Moroccan and Spanish nationals. The women, also members of the crime group, were registered as employees in these companies. Their employment contracts allowed them to justify their revenues and gave the companies a legitimate legal appearance. A money laundering component was also detected during the investigation. Europol provided coordination and analytical support and facilitated the information exchange. On the action day, Europol also deployed experts on-the-spot to cross-check operational information in real time against Europol’s databases and to provide technical expertise.    In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Facilitation of illegal immigration is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

Europol supported an international operation led by the Criminal Office of the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic (Finančná správa Slovenskej republiky) in cooperation with Polish Customs (Służba Celna). The operation began in 2019 with surveillance as part of an investigation targeting mineral oil fraud in the EU. Thanks to this coordinated action, 16 000 litres of illicit fuel were seized in November 2019 and the organised crime group behind this illegal activities was dismantled. Signal jammers to neutralise GPS trackers The criminals worked in a very sophisticated way trying to avoid police operations. They used signal jammers to neutralise GPS trackers installed by the law enforcement authorities on the criminals’ vehicles. At the same time, passenger vehicles accompanied all the oil deliveries, trying to ensure that the consignments could reach their final destination undisturbed. Despite these measures, the customs officers succeeded in detecting and apprehending not only the fraudsters but the ringleaders too. On the action days, police officers carried out seven searches of properties and storage facilities. Consequently, 4 individuals were arrested, 16 000 litres of illicit fuel was seized, vehicles (two semi-trailers and three tractors), technical equipment, and documents proving that 348 000 litres of illicit oil had been shipped. Four weapons and signal jammers were also found and seized during the searches. Europol runs the international cooperation Analysis Project Smoke at Europol continuously supports intelligence and targeting operational actions in this crime area. For this case, Europol’s experts contributed by facilitating international cooperation between the Slovak and Polish authorities, cross-checking data against Europol’s databases and providing analytical support. The investigation is ongoing and the exact amount of the tax evasion still being quantified.      

Today, the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT), an international initiative to tackle the most pressing threats of cybercrime, met within the framework of its Board in Rome, Italy, to discuss operational and strategic matters for the year ahead. The objective of this Taskforce, launched in 2014, is to drive intelligence-led, coordinated actions against key cybercrime threats and targets by facilitating the joint identification, preparation and smooth running of cross border cybercrime investigations by its partners.  Romania has become the latest country to join the J-CAT whose membership now spans 16 countries: EU Member States: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom; non-EU law enforcement partners: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Norway, Switzerland and the United States; All these officers work from the same office within Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) to facilitate the smooth and swift exchange of information between the involved countries.  During this meeting in Rome, the Dutch Chairmanship of the J-CAT was extended, while the new Vice-Chairmanship – Switzerland, was elected, replacing the US FBI in this position.  Key successes of 2019 The J-CAT supported 59 high-profile cybercrime cases in 2019, with notable successes including: The arrest of a 36-year old individual in the United Kingdom for the theft of around €10 million in the IOTA cryptocurrency from over 85 victims worldwide.  The arrest of five men and one woman in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands after a 14-month long investigation into a €24 million cryptocurrency theft. The theft, which targeted users’ Bitcoin wallets, is believed to have affected at least 4 000 victims in 12 countries; The arrests in Spain, Italy and France of individuals forming WhatsApp groups to create and exchange child sexual abuse material. That exchange included the creation of emoji ‘stickers’ of child sexual abuse and other extreme material that were subsequently widely distributed.  The takedown of Imminent Monitor Remote Access Trojan (IM-RAT) which was able to give full remote control of a victim’s computer to cybercriminals. This tool was used across 124 countries and sold to more than 14 500 buyers. Search warrants were executed in Australia and Belgium against the developer and one employee of IM-RAT, and 13 of the most prolific users of this tool have been arrested at this stage.  Raising awareness  In a bid to boost awareness and collaboration with national, regional and local cyber police units from current J-CAT member countries, a number of roadshows were organised in 2019 in Switzerland, Norway, Germany and Sweden. These roadshows followed the two Dutch ones organised in Dec 2018. Over 580 cyber law enforcement and judiciary practitioners took part in these roadshows which included presentations on the tools and services provided by Europol’s European Cybercrime in support of cyber cases, as well as the type of support offered by the J-CAT cyber liaison officers.  This programme of roadshows was supplemented by 4 CEPOL webinars, delivered in different languages by the J-CAT members themselves to reach out to cyber investigators at the national and local level in their own language. A further 580 participants from over 30 countries joined these webinars. Such awareness raising activities have already resulted in concrete operational outcomes, such as an increase in the operational contributions as well as the increased use of the tools provided by Europol. 

The British Royal Gibraltar Police  and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) supported by Europol, dismantled an organised criminal group smuggling migrants from Morocco to Europe. The operation led to 47 arrests, house searches in Gibraltar and Spain and the seizure of €19 000 in cash, 12 smartphones, five cars and various documents. A total of 16 devices were successfully examined: six mobile phones, four media storage devices and six SIM cards.  Between €7 000 and €8 000 to enter the EU  The organised crime group, active in Morocco, Gibraltar and Spain, was facilitating the UK visa application procedure in the British embassy in Rabat. Each migrant paid between €7 000 and €8 000 to the facilitators. The criminal organisation would have gained about €1 million from these illegal activities. Drivers, taxi drivers and staff to manage travel tickets – also part of the organisation – charged migrants an additional €100 to €200 on top of the €500 to €700 paid for secondary movements within the EU. Once the visas were granted, the migrants arrived in Gibraltar by plane or ferry from Morocco. In Gibraltar they were picked up by members of the organised criminal group and driven to Spain, hidden in off-road vehicles with tinted windows. In Spain, the migrants were provided with temporary accommodation or bus tickets to travel to another part of Spain or cross over to other EU Member States.  Europol supported the investigation with intelligence analysis and facilitated the information exchange. Europol deployed a mobile office in Gibraltar and Spain to cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases. Additionally, forensic extractions of devices were carried out at Europol’s headquarters and the results were analysed by experts from Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre.     In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. This multiannual Policy Cycle aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU in a coherent and methodological manner. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Migrant smuggling is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

A new Europol report aims to draw a picture of the status of access of European Union (EU) Member States to electronic evidence held by foreign-based online service providers in 2018. The report presents data in relation to the volume of requests from EU Member States to online service providers; the main reasons for refusal or delay of EU requests; and the main challenges in the process from the perspective of the different stakeholders. Manuel Navarrete, Head of the European Counter Terrorism Centre at Europol: “This is the first time such an exercise is carried out in a systematic way and including survey with judicial authorities, law enforcement from all EU Member States and input from over 12 online service providers. The information gathered gives indications of short-term actions, which could be taken to improve the swiftness of this process.” The report comprises a set of recommendations that are directed to online service providers and law enforcement agencies and may be applicable regardless of potential future developments in policy and regulations. Recommendations for online service providers Provide clear guidelines for law enforcement authorities, including information about which data sets can be requested and to which legal entity the data requests should be addressed. Prepare periodic transparency reports regarding requests from EU authorities, including standardised data categories across online service providers and files in CSV format. If direct requests or emergency disclosure requests are rejected, inform the requesting authority of the reason for rejection without delay. Recommendations for EU law enforcement agencies Provide periodic training courses to officers dealing with cross-border requests to online service providers. In EU Member States where there is no central unit to submit requests, establish single points of contact within the law enforcement agency to deal with the most relevant online service providers. Collect statistics regarding cross-border requests to online service providers.  The SIRIUS project is a response to the increasing need of European Union authorities to access electronic evidence from foreign-based online service providers, in the context of criminal investigations. Spearheaded by Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre and the European Cybercrime Centre at Europol, in close partnership with Eurojust and the European Judicial Network, SIRIUS aims to help investigators and judicial authorities to cope with the complexity and volume of information in a rapidly changing online environment. The SIRIUS project was created by Europol in October 2017.  Download the full report European Union Digital Evidence Situation Report 2019.  

An investigation into the trafficking of contaminated clams resulted in dismantling a large organised crime network involving poachers, intermediaries and distribution companies responsible for the food poisoning of at least 27 individuals in Spain. The investigation involved the Portuguese Economic and Food Safety Authority (Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica – ASAE), the Food Fraud Network (FFN) of DG SANTE (European Commission) and was led by the Spanish SEPRONA (Guardia Civil’s nature and environment division) and coordinated by Europol. The operation led to 43 arrests (39 from Spain and 4 from Portugal), the seizure of 38.5 tonnes of clams worth €350 000 and €80 000 in cash, and the location of hideouts where they stored clams caught in Portugal. In addition, six searches and seven inspections took place, resulting in 11 companies under investigation. €9 million in profit from 1000 tonnes of clams  The criminal network was active for at least a year earning up to €9 million with more than 1 000 tonnes of illegally caught clams which were then seized by the 11 Spanish companies under investigation. The illegal clams were harvested in Portugal and then moved to Spain for the most lucrative seasons – the summer and the end-of-the-year holidays. After a brief clean up, the contaminated clams were sold in markets and restaurants. Washing the clam got rid of the bacteria (E. coli), but did not eliminate the viruses (Norovirus genogroup I and II and Hepatitis A).   Europol coordinated the operational activities from the very beginning of the investigation, facilitated the information exchange and provided operational analytical support and technical expertise. On the action day, Europol deployed an export on-the-spot to cross-check operational information in real time. In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for the 2018 - 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Environmental crime is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle. Watch video.

An international criminal group specialised in cocaine trafficking from South America to Europe through a company from Moldova, has been dismantled with authorities working together from Belgium and the Republic of Moldova, with the support of Europol.  The operation took place thanks to the consolidated efforts in carrying out special investigative measures and the criminal prosecution actions of a joint investigation group formed by the General Police Inspectorate of Moldova, the Belgian Federal Judicial Police of East-Flanders and Europol. At the beginning of December 2018, searches were carried out in parallel in Belgium and Moldova where evidence proving criminal activity was found.  In January 2019, 2 200 kg of cocaine were seized in Suriname which were also destined for Europe and was probably another cargo of the same criminal organisation.  The measures taken so far by the joint investigation team are: 20 targets were arrested in Belgium, the Netherlands and the Republic of Moldova;   confiscation of financial means and other assets estimated at about €1.5 million, coming from the criminal activities; seizure of 12 luxury cars.  In Moldova, the suspects face a prison sentence of up to 15 years; in Belgium they face from 5 to 10 years in prison. Watch Video.

A global law enforcement operation involving 61 countries has identified thousands of illicit activities behind severe marine pollution as well as hundreds of violations and exposed serious cases of contamination worldwide. Codenamed 30 Days at Sea 2.0, the month-long (1-31 October) operation gathered more than 200 enforcement authorities worldwide for concerted action across all continents. Illustrating the severe global extent of marine pollution crime, preliminary operational results have already revealed more than 3,000 offences detected during 17,000 inspections. The offences - such as illegal discharges at sea, in rivers, or in coastal areas - were found to have been committed primarily to avoid the cost of compliance with environmental legislation. Safeguarding sustainable development and public health As part of Operation 30 Days at Sea 2.0, INTERPOL hosted an Operational Command Centre (OCC) in Singapore to focus on the illegal trade in plastic waste, a key threat to marine environment security. The OCC brought key countries together to trigger investigations into cases of illegal export or import of plastic waste. “Plastic pollution crime threatens the food chain, ecosystems, economies, public health and sustainable development,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock. “INTERPOL has a powerful role in coordinating effective global multi-agency action to help countries tackle this serious form of pollution crime. “We have already seen significant results from the action days but the work will and must continue to identify those behind these crimes who are making a profit at the cost of our environment,” added the head of INTERPOL.  Transnational and interagency cooperation: a stronger response The European leg of 30 Days at Sea 2.0 was coordinated in cooperation with Europol and Frontex - the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. “With incidents of maritime pollution increasing significantly over the last decade, and as Europol considers maritime pollution to be a priority environmental crime area, we are proud to coordinate this operation within the EU Member States in active cooperation with our colleagues from INTERPOL and Frontex,” said Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle. “The nature of maritime pollution requires a coordinated and multi-agency approach on a global scale : the impressive results of the second edition of ‘Operation 30 Days at Sea’ illustrate once more what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies work together with the support of the EU and global organisations,” added the Europol Chief. “We are proud that we helped track down severe maritime pollution as part of Operation 30 Days at Sea 2.0 because we take the protection of our seas very seriously,” said Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri. “Frontex helped monitor and patrol the Mediterranean with its various services and planes and ships taking part in Frontex maritime joint operations,” added Mr Leggeri.  The operation also served to trigger new and stronger working partnerships between national agencies in some countries, which in turn boosted operational results and sustainable cooperation mechanisms In Nigeria, INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Abuja coordinated the action of 18 authorities through a task force created to conduct inspections into illegal oil refineries, found responsible for severe oil leakages polluting the country’s waterways.   Information exchanged between Malaysia and The Netherlands permitted authorities to identify the source country of seven containers of plastic waste being illegally shipped into Malaysia from Belgium via Hong Kong, and to initiate their repatriation. As part of the operation, some countries increased collective commitment to tackling plastic pollution crime through awareness campaigns in addition to enforcement actions.  Ecuador conducted a plastic waste collection campaign in the World Heritage site of the Galapagos Islands, resulting in the removal of more than 600 kg of refuse.  Indonesian authorities launched a public awareness campaign on national law enforcement’s newly strengthened approach to tackling marine pollution. INTERPOL is now working with more than 100 enforcement agencies worldwide on investigations triggered by Operation 30 Days at Sea 2.0. Follow the hashtags #PollutionCrime and #30DaysatSea on Twitter for further information on the operational successes.  

Between 9 and 11 December 2019 Europol coordinated joint raids against the sale of counterfeit euro banknotes on illegal platforms on the Darknet. Law enforcement authorities from seven EU Member States carried out 36 house searches, detained 44 suspects for questioning, 11 of whom have been arrested, and seized counterfeit euro banknotes, drugs, weapons, doping substances, illegally procured medicines, forged documents and virtual currency. A clandestine documents print shop was also dismantled in Germany. Germany carried out 27 house searches and 9 other raids were done in Austria, France, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg and Spain. These joint activities were triggered when the Portuguese Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária) dismantled a digital print shop in July 2019. This Europol-supported operation led to the arrests of five individuals suspected of producing and  distributing counterfeit 10 and 50 euro banknotes mainly via the Darknet. Over 26 000 fake banknotes were shipped to buyers all over Europe, making this criminal group the second-largest counterfeit currency producer operating on the Darknet to be identified so far. Europol analysed the information uncovered during the raid in Portugal and disseminated it to the affected countries, leading to buyers on the Darknet.  Europol, assigned with the role of the European Central Office for combating euro counterfeiting, supported the investigation with operational analysis and facilitated the information exchange.  Watch video.

Law enforcement authorities from Greece and Italy, supported by Europol and Eurojust, have dismantled a large organised crime group smuggling migrants by leisure boats / pleasure crafts via the Adriatic Sea. On the action day, law enforcement authorities carried out 13 house searches and arrested 8 individuals of Greek, Italian and Middle Eastern origin suspected to be members of the criminal network. Investigations are still ongoing in both countries.  Active since 2018, the organised criminal group is suspected of smuggling around 150 migrants from the west of Greece via the Strait of Corfu to the southern Italian coast between Otranto and Lecce. The migrants were paying up to €6 000 to travel about 12 hours in leisure boats sometimes as small as ten meters long. Children under 13 years old were among the migrants smuggled this way by the criminal group. Europol has supported this complex cross-border investigation with the deployment of experts from its European Migrant Smuggling Centre. Europol facilitated the information exchange between concerned law enforcement and prosecution authorities and coordinated operational meetings. Europol also provided constant intelligence analysis on the wider phenomenon and case specific intelligence products. On the action day, Europol participated in the coordination centre set-up at Eurojust. Europol supported the exchange of officers between Italy and Greece and deployed experts to support the field activities with cross-checking of operational information in real-time. Europol staff permanently deployed to the European Union Regional Task Forces in Athens and Catania supported this operation during the whole period of the investigation. Watch video. Watch video. In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. This multiannual Policy Cycle aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU in a coherent and methodological manner. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Migrant smuggling is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

Law enforcement authorities from France and Italy, supported by Europol and Eurojust, have dismantled a large organised crime group smuggling migrants from Italy via France and Germany towards other European countries. On the action day, law enforcement authorities carried out a number of house searches and arrested 11 Pakistani nationals (10 in Italy and 1 in France) suspected of being members of the criminal network.  Active for the past two years, the network transported Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani irregular migrants from northern Italy to western Europe in vans.  The joint operation was triggered by parallel investigations in France and Italy into the activities of the same organised criminal network. The cross-checking of operational data through Europol’s databases brought together these investigations which were looking into the same suspects located mainly in France and Italy.  Europol supported the investigation with operational analysis and facilitated the information exchange. Europol deployed one expert to Turin, Italy to cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases in real time, provide technical expertise and support actions in the field.    In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In March 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime for the 2018 - 2021 period. This multiannual Policy Cycle aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU in a coherent and methodological manner. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Migrant smuggling is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

Law enforcement authorities from Germany and Hungary, supported by Europol and Eurojust, dismantled an organised criminal group suspected of carrying out automatic teller machine (ATMs) attacks in the eastern part of the German state of Hessen. On the action day, German and Hungarian police officers carried out 20 house searches. The operation resulted in three arrests in Germany and the seizures of assets. Five other suspects have been detained for questioning (four in Hungary and one in  Germany). The criminal group, which had been active since 2016, is suspected of blowing up ATMs worth €285 000. Aside from the destroyed ATMs, significant damage was also caused to their surroundings. The suspects broke open the front section of the ATMs and then poured explosive gas into the machine’s safe. Once the gas ignited, the explosion blew open the vault of the ATM. Europol supported the investigation with operational analysis and facilitated the information exchange. Europol deployed experts to Hungary to cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases in real time and support actions in the field. To coordinate the investigations successfully, a Joint Investigation Team including Germany, Hungary and Europol was set up by Eurojust. In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for the 2018 - 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Organised property crime is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.  

On 10 December 2019, the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carried out a search and arrest operation – operation Mombasa – which was supported by officers from the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) and Europol. Two individuals have been arrested and are currently detained in Ireland. Suspected false documents, phones, financial documentation and cash were also seized. A third individual was arrested during a search and arrest action day on 5 December 2019 and is also currently detained by the Irish authorities.    This operation was attended by the Garda liaison officer to Spain and three officers from the Spanish National Police who are in Ireland to advance the investigation in both jurisdictions.  The Spanish National Police conducted searches in Barcelona on 9  December 2019 as part of operation Mombasa and seized false documents, flight tickets and bookings and evidence from parcel delivery services. Two people were also arrested during the search in Spain.   Multi-jurisdictional investigation  Operation Mombasa is a multi-jurisdictional investigation that was launched in late 2018 and centres on an organised crime group of non-EU nationals (primarily from Georgia) who are known to be resident in Ireland. This organised crime group is involved in the facilitation of bringing Georgian nationals to Ireland and the UK via Spain and France. While the initial connections identified that Ireland and the UK are currently targeted by this criminal gang, further exchanges of information through Europol identified links to other European countries and the USA.   These individuals are believed to be involved in the large-scale production and distribution of false identity and travel documents to order (passports, national ID cards and driving licences) and send these documents from Ireland to individuals outside the country via regular postal and courier services.  125 arrests in the last two years In addition to the investigations which are being conducted in Ireland, there are also several related investigations into the activities of this organised crime group in several other EU Member States such as Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, coordinated with the support of Europol, and in the USA.  The investigations carried out over the last two years led officers to detain 125 Georgian nationals carrying fake documents through French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish airports and whose aim was to commit crimes in Europe. Investigations reveal that those arrests might be linked to the ones made in Ireland and Spain this month. Europol supported the investigation with analytical, operational and coordination support, as well as analysis and information exchange. Four operational meetings were funded by Europol and 21 analytical products were prepared and disseminated by Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre to the countries involved. Watch video.

On 4 and 5 December, over 150 delegates from EU Member States, third partner countries and 9 international organisations gathered at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague for the 3rd annual conference: Drugs in Europe: tackling top-level drug trafficking organisations and large scale supply. The conference focused on the fact that the drugs situation in Europe is unprecedented, expanding in scale and complexity as the supply is increasing across all drug commodities.  Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle said: “The illicit production and trafficking of drugs have always been at the heart of Europol’s mandate and will continue to be so, especially given the clear escalation of the situation in Europe. Currently, organised crime poses the highest and most diverse risk to the EU internal security and drug trafficking is the most prolific criminal activity. This situation demands a considerable increase in law enforcement attention and resources devoted to tackling those criminals involved in illicit production and trade.” Trends discussed at the conference: Organised crime groups: The number of identified criminal groups operating in the EU in 2019 stands at more than 5 000 and there are new types of organised criminal groups emerging in Europe, including, among others, street gangs and various groups having their roots outside the EU.  Scale of the drugs market: The drug market is considered to be the largest criminal market in the EU with more than 35% of the criminal groups active in the EU being involved in the production, trafficking, distributing and selling of drugs.  Supply and trafficking: Europol sees a clear increase in drug supply and trafficking activities and the EU is not only a production hub for synthetic drugs but also a key market for cocaine. Trafficking by containers is one of the main methods for transporting cocaine to the EU, with 1% entering as a result of online orders and subsequent parcel post delivery. Violence: Europol is seeing an increase in violence linked to clashes between criminal groups, such as gang-linked killings. The latest trends linked to organised crime groups involved with drugs include increasing violence (shootings and bombings), corruption and rapid formation of global networks. Terrorism: There is clear evidence outside the EU of revenue generated by some organised criminal groups involved in drugs trafficking being linked to terrorism. Fatal casualties: Drug-related deaths in Europe are at an all-time high, mostly affecting younger, more vulnerable members of society.  Asset recovery: Despite comprehensive money laundering legislation in EU Member States, the results of asset tracing in terms of confiscations remain at an extremely low level. Of the billions of euros generated by the illicit drug trade in Europe around only 1% is confiscated and more needs to be done to address this situation. The result is an increasing number of criminal groups with significantly higher profits, which can be used to fund other illicit operations and to infiltrate legitimate business structures. Law enforcement response and Europol’s Strategy 2020+ Law enforcement needs to tackle this development and must invest heavily in supporting drug-related investigations in Europe. This must include an enhanced targeting process against the most prominent criminals, who constitute the highest risk of serious and organised crime in the EU and beyond.  Europol’s Strategy 2020+ aims at bringing Europol’s operational services closer to the investigative activities of EU Member States, improving the quality of intelligence in Europol’s databases and ensuring agile and impactful operational support. Moreover, Europol is currently supporting a large number of investigations into high-risk organised crime groups and their leaders. The EU strategy on serious and organised crime During the conference, delegates discussed the need for having an EU strategy to organised crime and recommended that this strategy cover the following aspects: to prioritise operational law enforcement efforts against high-risk organised crime groups in the EU through a high-value target selection process established by the Member States with the support of Europol; to better tackle communication encryption and other new technology-related methods employed by organised crime groups; to increase the operational cooperation with South American and other relevant non-EU countries as this is essential to tackle the drugs trafficking in general and cocaine trade in specific;   to find a solution for inconsistencies with regard to the legal framework  and working processes concerning drug trafficking and other international organised crime-related investigations in the EU; to put a focus on seizing criminal assets to strengthen the impact against organised crime; to focus on drug trafficking and other crime hubs, such as airports, harbours and other geographical locations, identified by the Member States in the EU and in non-EU countries to ensure efficient information exchange and joint investigations; to enhance the real-time actionable information exchange and related joint investigations between the Member States with the support of Europol. 3rd international drugs conference at Europol Europol organised the annual conference for the third year in a row to increase the understanding of the latest trends in illicit drugs production and trafficking and to agree on bold law enforcement responses to protect the public from the threats posed by illicit drugs. Given the rapid evolution of both crime trends and operational response measures, Europol hosts this drugs conference on an annual basis. In November, Europol and the EMCDDA jointly published the EU Drug Markets Report 2019. The report highlights the increasing importance of Europe, both as a target and drug-producing region, and shows how violence and corruption, long seen in traditional drug-producing countries, are now increasingly evident within the EU. Among the wide-ranging consequences of the drug market presented in the analysis are its negative impacts on society (e.g. gang violence, drug-related homicide) and the strain on public institutions and governance.

Last week, the Croatian National Police Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime in collaboration with the prosecutor’s office, tax administration, customs and in cooperation with Europol conducted a complex international criminal investigation of an organised crime group (OCG) for acting in a criminal enterprise, tax evasion, money laundering, forgery of documents and fraud. The crimes were committed during luxury vehicle trades in which the OCG established several missing trader companies in different EU countries, giving the impression of carrying out legitimate business. At the same time, they were forging documents and invoices to evade taxes and excise and provided money-laundering services to other criminals and OCGs. The Croatian Police together with German and Czech law enforcement authorities in cooperation with Europol arrested leaders and members of this OCG and conducted numerous searches of houses, offices, vehicles, and digital equipment used by criminals during large international operation. On the action day on 5 December, Europol sent a mobile office to Zagreb to cross-check information obtained and to establish a fast connection with other EU Member State law enforcement authorities.  The Croatian Police has pressed charges against a 48-year-old Croatian citizen for establishing the criminal enterprise and against 10 other people for being members of this OCG.  The investigation ongoing and the Croatian Police expects new charges to be put forward.  

The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), supported by Europol, carried out an operation targeting companies involved in considerable gas emissions attacking the atmosphere. The operation led to the investigation of 30 companies involved in illegal emissions of polluting substances and the arrests of 68 individuals. The companies are suspected of releasing around 76 million kilos of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. To put this into perspective, a car would have to drive 800 million kilometres to release the same amount. The investigation, coordinated by Spanish Central Prosecutor’s Office (Environmental Crime), monitored the activities of authorised centres managing end-of-life vehicles in Madrid, Catalonia and the Basque Country. The investigators looked into the way criminals were disposing of the toxic substance contained in the air conditioning systems. As an example, these systems use refrigerant fluids to reduce temperatures. Therefore, such substances attack the ozone layer, thus contributing to global warming. How old cars kill the ozone layer  Once vehicles are declared as end-of-life, the refrigerant fluids in their circuits must be retrieved and disposed of in accordance with the EU legal framework in place. For this, the owners bring their vehicles to authorised centres and receive documents which testify the disposal procedure has been respected. End-of-life vehicles contain a high amount of pollutingsubstances including hazardous waste. Its improper disposal may involve the emission of polluting substances into the atmosphere, soil and water. Europol supported the investigation with operational analysis, facilitation of information exchange and strategic analysis of the possible connections with the other EU Member States.     In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for the 2018 - 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Environmental crime is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle

Austrian law enforcement together with the General Police Inspectorate of The Republic of Moldova (National Investigative Inspectorate) coordinated and supported by Europol, have jointly investigated and arrested an organised crime group suspected of smuggling nuclear materials.The cooperation, that included transnational investigative measures, targeted a group of criminals when they attempted to sell nuclear container which allegedly contained radiological material to an army for €3 million.During the comprehensive operation three individuals were arrested in Vienna, Austria, two of them had criminal records, and one of them had been already convicted for a similar crime in the past.Europol deployed an expert on-the-spot to support the analysis of the CBRN material and provided analytical and coordination support. Trafficking in nuclear and radiological materials is presently assessed as a potential risk to the EU internal security. Despite the good work being done by law enforcement agencies, the likelihood of the illegal movement of nuclear and radiological materials remains due to the increased availability of misappropriated radiological sources from different conflict zones and their further trade. Watch video

On 27 and 28 November 2019, the European Union Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) at Europol organised its 17th Joint Referral Action Day with specialised units from EU Member States, non-EU countries 1 and other Europol specialised units.  This joint action was coordinated from Europol’s headquarters in The Hague and mainly targeted manuals and tutorials explaining how to build improvised explosive devices (IED) and use chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents in the context or terrorism. During the referral action days, the parties involved reviewed the referral process, from the detection of terrorist content to its flagging to online service providers (OSPs). The focus of this initiative included the detection and referral of terrorist content in a number of platforms. A total amount of 1733 items were referred to the involved OSPs with a request to be reviewed against their terms of service. The joint operation included also dark web investigations focusing on the trade of CBRN explosive agents in dark web markets. In addition, investigators from the participating countries conducted investigations regarding suspicious transactions of chemical precursors in online retailers. Europol promotes cooperative relations to combat terrorist content online. Similar joint actions will continue to be organised frequently. 1Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain (Civil Guard and National Police), United Kingdom (Metropolitan Police) and the USA (FBI).

Law enforcement authorities from 31 countries, supported by Europol, Eurojust and the European Banking Federation (EBF), have stepped up their efforts to crack down on money mule schemes that rope in victims often unaware that the money they are sending is part of an elaborated money laundering scheme.  The fifth European Money Mule Action (EMMA 5) took place between September – November 2019, resulting in the identification of 3833 money mules alongside 386 money mule recruiters, of which 228 were arrested. 1025 criminal investigations were open, many of them are still ongoing. More than 650 banks, 17 bank associations and other financial institutions helped to report 7520 fraudulent money mule transactions, preventing a total loss of €12.9 million. This year, law enforcement, judicial and financial authorities from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,  Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Australia, Moldova, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Ukraine participated in this international swoop.  Europol and Eurojust organised various operational and coordination meetings in The Hague to discuss the unique approach of each Member State to tackle money muling in their respective country. During the three-month action, Europol supported the operations by assisting the national authorities with cross-checks against Europol’s databases and intelligence gathering for further analysis, while Eurojust contributed to the swift forwarding and facilitation of the execution of European Investigation Orders.  Unsuspecting money mules Money mules, unlike their drug-trade counterparts, are not shuffling illicit goods over a physical border. Instead, they take part – often unknowingly - in money laundering activities by receiving and transferring illegally obtained money between bank accounts and/or countries.  Recruiters of money mules are coming up with ingenious ways to lure in their candidates. This year, cases involving romance scams were reported on the rise, with criminals increasingly recruiting money mules on online dating sites, grooming their victims over time to convince them to open bank accounts under the guise of sending or receiving funds. Criminals are also more and more turning to social media to recruit new accomplices through get-rich-quick online advertisements. This technique is particularly popular when it comes to targeting students and young adults.  Even if money mules act unwittingly, they are committing a crime. Law enforcement will turn first to whoever’s name features on the bank account, and the legal consequences can be severe. Depending on the country’s legal framework, mules may face lengthy imprisonments and acquire a criminal record that could seriously affect the rest of their lives, such as never being able to secure a mortgage or open a bank account. #DontbeaMule To raise awareness of this type of fraud, the money muling awareness campaign #DontbeaMule kicks off today across Europe. With awareness-raising material, available for download in 25 languages, the campaign will inform the public about how these criminals operate, how they can protect themselves and what to do if they become a victim. For the next week, international partners from law enforcement and judicial authorities, together with financial institutions, will be supporting the campaign at national level. Do you think you might be used as a mule? Act now before it is too late: stop transferring money and notify your bank and your national police immediately. Read more information.  

On 14 November 2019, Europol’s AP Smoke organised an operational meeting at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague. This multi-agency meeting was attended by authorities from the Netherlands (FIOD), Belgium (Customs), Sweden (Customs), and Spain (Guardia Civil). The meeting targeted an international organised crime group engaged in illicit cigarette production, drug and cigarette smuggling and money laundering.   Following the operational meeting an action day was carried out on 25 November, during which the Belgium Customs raided an illegal cigarette factory in Lanaken, Belgium. Eight arrests were made and a complete production line was seized, preventing it from being packed and moved to another location.  

Law enforcement authorities from 18 EU Member States1 and third parties in a joint investigation with Europol and the US National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Centre 2, facilitated by Eurojust and INTERPOL, have seized over 30 506 domain names that distributed counterfeit and pirated items over the internet during operation IOS X. These included counterfeit pharmaceuticals and pirated movies, illegal television streaming, music, software, electronics, and other bogus products.  3 arrests and 26 000 luxury products seized During the investigation, officials arrested 3 suspects, seized 26 000 luxury products (clothes, perfumes), 363 litres of alcoholic beverages, and many hardware devices. They identified and froze more than €150 000 in several bank accounts and online payment platforms.  Europol ’s Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC³) supported the investigation on the ground by deploying experts with a mobile office. Europol officers carried out real-time information exchange and cross-checks of the data gathered during the course of the action against Europol’s databases. In addition, IPC3 experts organised several online investigation techniques training courses in intellectual property infringements in 2019 with law enforcement authorities all over Europe. Making the internet a safer place for consumers ‘In Our Sites’ (IOS), launched in 2014, is the continuation of a recurrent joint global operation that has increased significantly year-on-year. The operation is the result of the comprehensive approach which Europol follows with the aim of making the internet a safer place for consumers, by getting even more countries and private sector partners to participate in this operation and providing referrals.  Europol, supported by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), continued to enhance efforts in 2019 by successfully supporting many high-priority investigations related to online crimes, providing training for online investigations, and organising the conference on Adaptive enforcement initiatives against new IP crime trends in Malaga, Spain on 18 and 19 June 2019. To raise awareness of this growing threat, Europol’s IPC³ launched the Don’t F***(ake) Up campaign. The campaign aims to inform citizens of the risks of buying fake products online and give advice to help identify illicit websites selling counterfeit goods, as well as other means used by counterfeiters, such as fake social media accounts and fake apps. 1 Albania, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Hong Kong,China, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Moldova, Romania , Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 2 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Watch video.

On 26 November, the French National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie nationale) and the Lithuanian Police (Lietuvos Policija) supported by Europol, have dismantled an organised crime group involved in the theft of navigation systems from tractors.  The investigation led to the identification of 47 criminal cases associated with the same organised crime group. It is estimated that the criminal network has caused damage worth more than €575 000. During the operation, four individuals were arrested in Panevėžys, Lithuania, where the network was based. Operating in rural areas through France since 2018, the criminal syndicate is suspected of stealing GPS systems to then resell them mainly outside the EU. Depending on the type of system, each navigation system is worth between €10 000 and €20 000.  Europol supported the exchange of operational information, provided analytical and coordination support. On the action day, Europol experts supported the operation by cross-checking real-time operational information against Europol’s databases. Agro theft: immediate response to the growing trend With 675 cases in 2018 – which represents more than €6.5 million losses in the agricultural sector – an increasing trend of GPS thefts in tractors has been seen in France. Europol provided information exchange and coordination to the French national task force against GPS theft in tractors, which was created in 2018.  In September 2019, another investigation supported by Europol led to six arrests and the dismantling on another Lithuanian organised crime group believed to be responsible for €2.5 million in damage.   In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for the 2018 - 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Organised property crime is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.

Sharing expertise and knowledge is crucial to combat ruthless criminals risking migrants’ lives for their highly profitable criminal activity. On 25 and 26 November, Europol has hosted experts from EU Members states, third party countries and international organisations gathered at the annual meeting of Joint Operational Team (JOT) MARE.  The experts focused on modern communication technologies involved in facilitation of illegal migration, use of specialised forensic examinations and cooperation with source and transit countries to tackle the criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling. During the conference, the Netherlands Forensic Institute presented their preliminary finding on an examination of a rubber boat used to smuggle 78 irregular migrants in life-threatening conditions to Spain. The experts shared the operational value of specialist forensics in the investigations against criminal networks smuggling vulnerable migrants in extremely dangerous condition by sea.       A profitable and widespread criminal activity, migrant smuggling has attracted the most ruthless criminal networks active in the EU and beyond. In 2019, estimated smuggling price varied from €300 for a jet ski to €5 000 for a yacht. Authorities from source, transit and destination countries work to reinforce cooperation and disrupt this highly life-threatening criminal activity. JOT Mare annual meeting provided a platform to strengthen and deepen cooperation by the exchange of best practices and experience in the fight against migrant smuggling.  A particular emphasis was put on the cooperation with African countries. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – Regional Office for West Africa highlighted the challenges and opportunities in cooperation with countries in the region. In addition, a delegation from The ROCK (Regional Operational Centre in Khartoum) shared their experience on operations against human trafficking and people smuggling from the Horn of Africa. Frontex, Eurojust and Interpol focused on the current state of play and the set-up of operational cooperation with countries outside of the EU.  Participants were also updated with main operational developments in the JOT MARE and Information Clearing House teams, with ongoing initiatives and future projects of Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre. Download the EMSC The profits of smugglers infographic. Watch video.

On 26 November 2019, the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), with the support of Europol’s experts on sports corruption, arrested nine individuals in connection with match-fixing and money laundering during the second phase of operation Oikos.  The documentation seized during the first phase in May 2019 revealed that the suspects made deals to arrange results of second division matches so the team could reach the playoffs and enter the first division in the Spanish National League. The operation was supported by Europol’s Analysis Project on Sports Corruption. Europol provided analytical support throughout the investigation and supported the operation on-the-spot. A Europol analyst was deployed to Spain to perform real-time cross-checks, analysis and provide digital forensic assistance with a mobile office. Investigations are still ongoing and the operation remains classified.

Between 18 – 22 November 2019, 60 countries, 56 airlines and 12 online travel agencies were involved in the 12th edition of the Global Airline Action Days (GAAD), an international and multidisciplinary operation to fight fraudulent online purchases of flight tickets with compromised credit card data, which took place at more than 200 airports across the world. During this international law enforcement operation, targeting airline fraudsters, 165 suspicious transactions were reported. Investigations have been opened and 79 individuals suspected of traveling with airline tickets bought using stolen, compromised or fake credit card details have been arrested or detained.  Some of the reported cases were linked to illegal immigration, where the arrested passengers were in possession of counterfeited IDs or valid documents from other persons from different nationalities.  It is worth noting that during the week of action, after receiving an alert on a suspicious transaction and starting the procedure of cooperation between the different partners, one individual was arrested on the basis of a European Arrest Warrant in a European airport and charged with parental abduction. He was trying to flee Europe and reach India with the child.  GAAD was coordinated from Command Posts at Europol in the The Hague, INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, Ameripol and Colombia in Bogota, Canada and NCFTA (with the US Secret Service) in the US.  Eurojust assisted during the action days, together with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), which deployed officers to 28 airports. The Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP), implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO) and counting the European Union as its main donor, also took part in law enforcement activities at airports in Africa, by deploying one officer at the main Command Post in Europol HQ.  Representatives from airlines, online travel agencies, payment card companies, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), European Airline Fraud Prevention Group and Perseuss, collaborated with Europol’s experts to identify suspicious transactions and provide confirmation to law enforcement officers deployed in the airports. In particular, the Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC) joined this year’s operation to provide better support to EU Member States and partners for fighting migrant smuggling networks. The operation was further supported by the Taskforce Travel Intelligence (TFTI). Considering that criminals usually use fraud tickets and fake identification documents to facilitate illegal immigration, Europol specialists and analysts equipped with special technical equipment were deployed to several European airports during the investigations.  “Airline ticket fraud is borderless by nature. This operation was the culmination of many months of meticulous planning between Europol, law enforcement, judiciary and border agencies, airlines and credit card companies, and is a perfect example of how our combined forces can make distinctive contribution in the fight against these criminal syndicates operating across borders”, said Wil van Gemert, Europol’s Deputy Executive Director Operations.  “The Global Airline Action Day operation is an excellent example of how collaboration between the agencies as well as the public and private sectors serves to tackle and prevent crime such as credit card fraud. The operation was underpinned by professional commitment and mutual support across borders between national, regional and international police organizations”, said Paul Stanfield, INTERPOL Director, Organized & Emerging Crime. The cooperation and information exchange between the public and the private sector is the most efficient way of fighting tickets fraud and all other forms of organised crime, such as irregular immigration, trafficking in human beings, drug trafficking. Background The card-not-present (CNP) fraud, the purchases of physical goods with compromised cards, has seen a significant increase throughout the EU and across many sectors such as, airline tickets, car rentals and accommodation. Tens of thousands of crimes are reported in many EU countries and volume is increasing every year. Airline companies are among the most affected by CNP fraud. It is estimated that the airline industry’s losses have reached close to 1 billion USD per year, as a result of the fraudulent online purchases of flight tickets. These online transactions are highly lucrative for organised crime and are often linked to more serious criminal activities including irregular immigration, trafficking in human beings, drug smuggling and terrorism.  

26.11.2019, BRUSSELS Europeans are spending at least EUR 30 billion on drugs each year at retail level, making the drug market a major source of income for organised crime groups in the European Union. This figure is announced today in the 2019 EU Drug Markets Report, released by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) and Europol (1). Around two-fifths of this total (39%) is spent on cannabis, 31% on cocaine, 25% on heroin and 5% on amphetamines and MDMA (2).  The two agencies have joined forces to provide their third state-of-the art overview of the European illicit drug market. The report covers trends along the supply chain from production and trafficking to distribution and sales. It describes how the drug market has wide-ranging impacts on both health and security and how a holistic approach is crucial for effective drug control policies.  Presenting the report’s findings today, Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship said: ‘Organised crime groups are quick to seize new opportunities for financial gain and are increasingly exploiting technological and logistical innovations to expand their activities across international borders. At the same time, drugs are now more accessible to European consumers, often via social media and the internet. Today’s report proves once again that the illicit drug market remains a threat to the health and security of our citizens. We will continue working relentlessly with our Member States and international partners on strengthening our fight against drugs in all its aspects; for our youth, our citizens, our society.’ The strategic and action-oriented analysis combines data from the EMCDDA’s drug monitoring system with Europol’s operational intelligence on organised crime. The latest data (3) show that overall drug availability within Europe remains ‘very high’ and that consumers have access to a wide variety of high-purity and high-potency products at steady, or falling, prices. An important cross-cutting theme in the report is the environmental impact of drug production, including deforestation and the dumping of chemical waste, which can result in ecological damage, safety risks and high clean-up costs.   Rising violence and corruption linked to EU drug market activity The report highlights the increasing importance of Europe, both as a target and drug-producing region, and shows how the violence and corruption, long seen in traditional drug-producing countries, are now increasingly evident within the EU. Among the wide-ranging consequences of the drug market presented in the analysis are its negative impacts on society (e.g. gang violence, drug-related homicide) and the strain on public institutions and governance. The drug market’s links to wider criminal activity (e.g. human trafficking, terrorism) are also explored, along with its negative repercussions on the legal economy (e.g. how money laundering associated with the drug trade undermines legitimate businesses). Trade, tech and criminal tools — driving and facilitating the market  According to the report, globalisation, technology and innovation and criminal tools are three forces driving and facilitating drug market developments. In a ‘more globally connected and technologically enabled’ market, organised crime groups are exploiting opportunities arising from expanding commercial markets, associated logistical developments and digitalisation. The report raises concerns over the greater diversification of maritime drug trafficking and the misuse of general aviation (e.g. private aircraft, drones) for criminal purposes. The use of post and parcel services to transport drugs is also expanding rapidly, following the rising trend of online shopping in Europe and the movement of larger volumes of goods.  Surface web and darknet markets, as well as social media, messaging services and mobile apps provide avenues for online drug sales. While darknet markets remain resilient (around 10 are still operating today), online vendor shops and markets targeting specific nationalities and language groups have also appeared. Illegal firearms, encrypted smartphones and fraudulent documents are among the key criminal tools increasingly used by drug dealers.  EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel says ‘This report is a clear wake-up call for policymakers to address the rapidly growing drug market, which is increasingly global, joined-up and digitally enabled. Hyper production of drugs, within and beyond EU borders, is leading to high availability of natural and synthetic substances. This means that consumers now have access to a diverse range of highly potent and pure products at affordable prices. A mounting concern is the rise in drug-related violence and corruption within the EU. Acting on the far-reaching consequences of the drug market for health and for security must now be an urgent priority.’ Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle stresses: ‘Europol sees a clear increase in trafficking activity through our operational work and the intelligence contributions we receive from EU Member States. Law enforcement needs to tackle this development and that is why we are investing heavily in supporting drug-related investigations in Europe. Europol is targeting in particular top-level organised crime groups which are making a lot of money for themselves on the back of their many victims.’ Key drug markets under the microscope The report takes an in-depth look at the markets for the main drugs used in Europe, following the flow from production to use.  Cannabis — products increasingly diverse: Estimated to be worth at least EUR 11.6 billion, this is the largest drug market in Europe, with some 25 million Europeans (15–64 years) having used the drug in the past year. The report illustrates that, while cannabis herb and resin still dominate, cannabis products are increasingly diverse in Europe. High-potency extracts, cannabis-based medicinal and health-orientated products and an increasing number of cannabidiol (CBD) or low-THC products are being sold in a range of forms. This makes close monitoring of their potency and potential health effects essential. Increased violence between organised crime groups dealing in cannabis is putting an added strain on law enforcement.  Heroin and other opioids — severe health risks and precursor concerns: Opioid use still accounts for the largest proportion of harms, including deaths, associated with illicit drug consumption in the EU. With some 1.3 million problem opioid users (mainly of heroin) in the EU, the estimated retail value of the heroin market is at least EUR 7.4 billion per year. The Balkan route remains the key corridor for heroin into the EU, but there are signs of increased heroin trafficking along the Southern route, particularly through the Suez Canal. There is also evidence of diversion and trafficking of the heroin precursor acetic anhydride from the EU to heroin producing areas. Highly potent synthetic opioids (e.g. fentanyl derivatives) represent a growing health risk. These are increasingly traded online and dispatched by post, often in small packages containing large numbers of potential user doses. Cocaine — record production and expanding markets: This is the second most commonly consumed illicit drug in the EU, with a market retail value estimated at EUR 9.1 billion. Around 4 million Europeans (15–64 years) report having used the drug in the past year. Use is still concentrated in the south and west of Europe but the market appears to be spreading. Record production in Latin America has intensified trafficking to the EU (mainly in maritime containers), where record seizures have been recorded. The presence of European organised crime groups in Latin America allows them to manage the supply chain ‘end-to-end’. This may be driving competition within the cocaine market, which is linked to violence within the EU. The EU appears to be emerging as a transit area for cocaine destined for other markets (e.g. Middle East, Asia). Amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA — large-scale production in Europe for domestic consumption and export: These make up around 5% of the total EU drug market, with an estimated EU retail market value of at least EUR 1 billion for amphetamine and methamphetamine and EUR 0.5 billion for MDMA. Around 1.7 million Europeans (15–64 years) have tried amphetamine or methamphetamine in the past year and some 2.6 million have tried MDMA (‘ecstasy’). Production of these substances takes place sometimes on an ‘industrial scale’ within the EU for domestic consumption and for export. New production methods yield purer and cheaper products, with organised crime groups controlling the whole logistics chain.   New psychoactive substances (NPS) — fewer new detections but potent substances pose serious health threats: These are diverse substances which are not subject to international drug controls. The value of the NPS market is unknown, however 55 NPS were reported to the EU Early Warning System in 2018, bringing the total number of NPS monitored to 731. The main source countries are China and, to a lesser extent, India. Policy responses and law enforcement activity in source countries are thought to have contributed to the slow-down in appearance of NPS (101 were reported in 2014). But NPS continue to pose serious cross-border threats to health, with potent synthetic opioids, cannabinoids and ‘fake’ benzodiazepines appearing on the market, associated with reports of health emergencies and deaths.  Tackling drug markets: actions for current and future scenarios In a drug market which is ‘increasingly complex, adaptive and dynamic’, the report stresses that ‘EU policies and responses need to be equally agile, adaptive and joined-up.’ The report presents a wide array of ongoing actions to target the illicit drug supply chain, from operational measures to tackle corruption at ports to training for officials in dismantling illicit drug laboratories. It also describes a full range of policy tools available (e.g. coordination structures, legislation, cooperation programmes and financial instruments).  Among the key areas for action identified in the report are: tackling the business models of top-level organised crime groups active in the global drug market; reducing vulnerabilities at external borders; and investing in forensic and toxicological capacity to keep pace with innovations in drug production.  The agencies stress that taking a future-oriented approach will boost preparedness to respond to potential future challenges, such as virtual currencies, drone technology, automation in supply chain logistics and artificial intelligence.  Notes (1) The EU Drug Markets Report (including an executive summary) is available in English. It is accompanied by a Highlights for policy and practice publication and 13 background papers addressing gaps identified in 2016. This news release is available in 24 languages. The report is part of a series published every three years (since 2013).  (2) The graphics in the report may be downloaded from the EMCDDA media library  (3) Unless otherwise stated, data in this report relate to 2017.  Watch Video of EU Drug Markets Report 2019 — highlights

Between 21-24 November, law enforcement and judicial authorities in Europe launched a joint action against the so-called Islamic State (IS) to disrupt the online activities of this terrorist organisation. The referral action coordinated by the European Union Internet Referral Unit of Europol, supported by Eurojust was joined by 12 Member States and 9 online service providers. It led to the referral of a total of over 26 000 items of IS-supporting content. This process is based on the referral by Europol of branded terrorist propaganda to online service providers who are responsible for evaluating it to establish any potential breach of their terms of service, to ensure that the rule of law is implemented and freedom of speech is safeguarded.  The operation was led by the Belgian Investigating Counter Terrorism Judge and the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office, together with the Belgian Federal Judicial Police of East-Flanders.   Within this operation the Guardia Civil carried out an arrest in Spain of an individual suspected of being part of the core disseminators of IS terrorist propaganda online. This arrest was carried out in coordination with the Central Magistrate’s Investigating Courts number 3 and 5, and the Prosecutor’s Office of the Audiencia Nacional.   Earlier efforts  This latest action ties in with a series of previous joint efforts aimed at taking down the various communication assets of this terrorist organisation.  In August 2016, a first takedown was launched against Amaq’s mobile application and web infrastructure. This action forced the propagandists to build a more complex and secure infrastructure to prevent further disruption from law enforcement.  In June 2017, a second strike led by the Spanish Guardia Civil and supported by Europol, Eurojust and the United States of America targeted part of the news agency’s web assets and infrastructure. The servers seized by the Guardia Civil allowed for the identification of radicalized individuals in 133 countries, and the detection of more than 200 million accesses to the so-called Islamic State propaganda contents by 52 000 possible consumers.  In April 2018, a multinational operation led by the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s office together with the Belgian Federal Judicial police of East Flanders, and with the support of Europol’s EU IRU, Eurojust and EU Member States finally took down the web infrastructure of IS, forcing the terrorist propagandist to rely heavily on social media and messaging applications to reach wider audiences online. This shift to online service providers allowed Europol and investigators in Member States to focus their work on the social media networks used by the IS media operatives, resulting in the actions day of November 2019.  Europol will continue working towards fostering closer public-private partnerships to ensure the disruption of the dissemination of the terrorist online propaganda, and will continue to support law enforcement authorities in EU Member States to address the terrorist abuse of the internet.  

On 21-22 November 2019, Europol’s European Union Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) organised at its headquarters in The Hague the 16th joint Referral Action Days.  This coordinated action focused on the dissemination of online terrorist content. Among the items referred were propaganda videos and social media accounts glorifying or supporting terrorism and violent extremism. Since July 2015, the EU IRU of Europol has been working with law enforcement authorities and online service providers to address the terrorist abuse of the internet in the framework of the EU Internet Forum.  Over the past year and a half, Europol has been collaborating with Telegram in tackling terrorism online. Building upon a previous Referral Action Days with Telegram in October 2018, the event this year was an opportunity for both parties to review the kind of content that terrorist groups attempt to disseminate online and further improve the referral process with the common aim of ensuring that material glorifying terrorism would be removed from internet as soon as possible.  Telegram is no place for violence, criminal activity and abusers. The company has put forth considerable effort to root out the abusers of the platform by both bolstering its technical capacity in countering malicious content and establishing close partnerships with international organisations such as Europol.  Thanks to this collaboration, the already-existing content referral tools available to Telegram’s users have been strengthened and expanded. Now, any user is able to refer and classify the content they find inappropriate and violent via the referral feature in public groups and channels. In addition, new technical developments, such as the advanced automated content detection system, continue to strengthen Telegram’s effort in obliterating extremism on the platform even further.  As concluded by Telegram’s representative: “We found the Referral Action Days productive and useful. We support free speech and peaceful protest, but terrorism and propaganda of violence have no place on Telegram. We are constantly improving our internal procedures and moderation tools to ensure that our platform stays free of abuse”.

On 22 November, the Heads of the nine EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) agencies met at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague. The discussions focused on the implementation of the New Strategic Agenda 2019-2024, the state-of-play of the interoperability project and the common efforts in reinforcing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.   Europol hosted their annual meeting in the framework of its 2019 chair of the JHA agencies’ network. During its chair, Europol has also organised five expert meetings on information technologies and cybersecurity, diversity and inclusion, media relations, training, and data protection.  The outcome of the meetings that took place under Europol’s chair will serve for the drafting of a joint strategic report with recommendations for the EU Council on the future Internal Security Strategy.  The different areas of cooperation and subjects relevant to JHA agencies discussed during the meeting and throughout the Europol chair in 2019 clearly demonstrate the crucial role of the agencies in the EU area of justice, security and freedom.  While each and every agency is doing its utmost to deliver results according to its respective mandate, there are several horizontal challenges which can be addressed only through even closer inter-agency cooperation.  In 2020, Eurojust will follow Europol as chair of the JHA Agencies Network. Spotlight on diversity and inclusion     The network has decided to further step-up its efforts in fostering inclusion and diversity and in addressing discriminatory behaviour. During the meeting, the agencies’ representatives have signed a formal engagement to champion equality and ensure equal opportunities for all staff members while embracing their diversity.  The common statement highlights the importance of inclusive corporate culture and strong diversity values to increase staff engagement, cohesion and organisational delivery. The statement focuses on promoting:      Inclusive corporate culture;  Strengthened diversity; Corporate awareness of fundamental rights and equal opportunities; Countering discriminatory behaviour.   The nine agencies members of the JHA Agencies Network are: European Asylum Support Office (EASO) ;  European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex);  European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE);  European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA);  European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA);  European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) ; European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL);  European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA);  European Union Judicial Cooperation Unit (EUROJUST).