Crime News

As of this year’s Cyber Monday, law enforcement agencies across several continents have taken down 12 526 websites, disconnected 32 servers used to distribute and host illegal content for 2 294 television channels and shut down 15 online shops selling counterfeit products on social media sites. In the physical realm, investigators seized 127 365 counterfeit products such as clothes, watches, shoes, accessories, perfumes, electronics and phone cases worth more than EUR 3.8 million.  Criminals living lavish lifestyles In the course of the operation, 10 search warrants were issued and 14 people were detained or formally accused of intellectual property crimes. In one specific action, Spanish Police arrested four people and one person was formally charged. According to preliminary investigative results, the prime suspect in this investigation was earning up to EUR 150 000 a month and living a lavish lifestyle in a luxury house, driving expensive cars and embarking on extravagant vacations all over the world. The criminal network dedicated itself to large-scale marketing and distribution of pirated audio-visual content  on the internet. As part of the operation, Spanish police disconnected 32 servers hosting the illicit content and seized cash, documents and two luxury vehicles. The Bulgarian Cybercrime Unit investigated a criminal network using Facebook accounts and websites to sell counterfeit clothes imitating well-known brands. In a coordinated action, a number of house searches were conducted and a workshop with sewing and embossing machines was discovered. Authorities seized fake stickers, the labels of well-known trademarks, unbranded articles ready to be processed, 600 counterfeit articles worth EUR 35 000 and an illegally possessed firearm.  These discoveries show once more that the production of counterfeit products increasingly takes place within the European Union. Additionally, it emphasises the growing overlap of intellectual property crimes with tax evasion and money laundering. The high-profit nature of the criminal activities also reaffirms the importance of law enforcement in conducting financial investigations and asset recovery concurrently.  Consumers to be cautious when shopping online The results of this operation act as a reminder to be extra cautious when shopping online to avoid buying counterfeit products through illicit platforms. Not only can such illicit products present serious health and safety risks to consumers, but the proceeds can also serve criminal networks involved in other forms of crime. The internet offers these criminals a certain level of anonymity and the possibility of covering their tracks. Its borderless nature facilitates criminal activities that largely take place at an international level. A domain, an IP address or a server may be registered in one country, the bank account for payments in another, while packages are sent from yet another country. This is often being orchestrated by criminals who are not located in any of these jurisdictions.  Organised crime groups frequently use established social media platforms to promote their websites and guide potential consumers to online sales platforms. Websites offering illicit products may also profit from advertisements. Occasionally, even prestigious brands may accidentally publish their ads on such domains, which might cause reputational harm and loss of investment. In certain cases the advertisements placed on commercial platforms (which are infringing intellectual property rights) may expose the consumer to malware or spyware, which is another reason to be extra careful and check Europol’s advice when shopping online.   Europol’s role Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. We also work with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

Between 8-19 November, coordinated raids were carried out across Europe and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), targeting both the command-and-control centre and the logistical drugs trafficking infrastructure in Europe.  A total of 49 suspects have been arrested during the course of this investigation. The drugpins considered as high-value targets by Europol had come together to form what was known as a ‘super cartel’ which controlled around one third of the cocaine trade in Europe.  These arrests are the culmination of parallel investigations run in Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UAE with the support of Europol into the activities of this prolific criminal network involved in large-scale drugs trafficking and money laundering.  The scale of cocaine importation into Europe under the suspects’ control and command was massive and over 30 tonnes of drugs were seized by law enforcement over the course of the investigations.  Participating law enforcement authorities:   Spain: Civil Guard (Guardia Civil)  France: National Police (Police Nationale – OFAST)  Belgium: Federal Judicial Police Brussels (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie Brussel/Police Judiciaire Fédérale de Bruxelles), Federal Judicial Police Antwerp (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie Antwerpen) The Netherlands: National Police National Criminal Investigations Division and Police Unit Rotterdam (Nationale Politie - Dienst Landelijke Recherche en Eenheid Rotterdam) United Arab Emirates: Ministry of Interior (وزارة الداخلية) Dubai Police Force (القيادة العامة لشرطة دبي) United States: US Drug Enforcement Administration Results in brief  Spain: 13 arrests + 2 High-Value Targets arrested in Dubai France: 6 arrests + 2 High-Value Targets arrested in Dubai  Belgium: 10 arrests  The Netherlands: 14 arrests in 2021 and 2 High-Value Targets arrested in Dubai Global cooperation In the framework of intelligence activities underway with its operational counterparts, Europol developed reliable intelligence concerning a drug trafficking cartel flooding Europe with cocaine. The main targets, who used encrypted communications to organise the shipments, were identified in the participating authorities.  Europol has since then hosted multiple coordination meetings in the past 2 years in order to bring together the different countries working on the same targets to establish a joint strategy to bring down the whole network. More than 10 operational meetings took place at Europol in this period.  In addition, Europol has been provided continuous intelligence development and analysis to support the field investigators.  During the action, Europol facilitated the real-time coordination among all  the partners involved, ensuring swift tactical decisions to adjust the strategy as required.  Eurojust provided cross-border judicial support to the French and Belgian authorities regarding seven arrests in both countries and organised four coordination meetings to prepare for these actions No safe haven for drug lords  This coordinated clampdown sends a strong message to criminals seeking sanctuary from law enforcement.  Earlier in September, Europol and the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates took an important step in enhancing their cooperation. A Liaison Officer Agreement was signed between the two, allowing UAE law enforcement liaison officers to be  deployed to Europol’s headquarters in the Netherlands.  A liaison officer from the Ministry of Interior of the UAE has already joined the network of more than 250 liaison officers from over 50 countries and organisations with a permanent representation at Europol.  This unique approach to international police cooperation has positioned Europol as the place where crucial intelligence emerges with law enforcement from countries across the world working side by side to fight the most dangerous criminal networks.

The investigations in eight countries uncovered that several criminal organisations were working together to carry out large-scale poly-criminal activities in and outside the European Union. These include drug trafficking, money laundering and illegal enrichment among others. On 22 November, a total of 94 searches were executed across Europe, targeting both the leaders of these criminal organisations and their associates. The criminal network operated in Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Poland, France, Germany and the Slovak Republic.  This international sweep follows complex investigations led by the Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office together and the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, together with their partners in the Czech Republic, Latvia, France, Germany, Poland, Norway, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Spain and the United States, under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol.  Overview of the arrests:  Lithuania: 7 arrests Czech Republic: 9 arrests France: 9 arrests Slovak Republic: 7 arrests Latvia: 5 arrests Poland: 2 arrests Norway: 2 arrests Germany: 1 arrest Spain: 1 arrest United States: 1 arrest Across borders and between continents The scale of drugs trafficking alone attributed to this criminal network is massive, with activities reported across three continents.    Large quantities of various illicit drugs, such as cocaine, hashish and cannabis and methamphetamine were seized during the investigations. The criminal network is believed to be linked to major drug trafficking organisations outside the European Union.  Highly flexible, these criminals would quickly adapt to new drugs trafficking methods to try to evade law enforcement. Drug shipments have been found in vessels and trucks amongst others, often concealed in sophisticated hidden compartments.  The criminal network was structured like a business, with different criminal groups and brokers working together across borders to control the whole chain of drugs trafficking – from arranging huge shipments of drugs to the distribution throughout Europe and beyond.  Global cooperation  International cooperation coordinated by Europol and Eurojust was central in bringing the perpetrators to justice who were all located in different geographical locations across the world.  From an early stage in the investigation, an Operational Taskforce was set-up at Europol, with Eurojust setting up and financing two joint investigation teams (JITs), which served as a joint hub for criminal intelligence. The participating countries were able to combine and analyse all the information and evidence obtained on these criminal networks at a national level, together with the information held in databases of the participating law enforcement authorities.  Based on this pool of information and evidence, the different authorities agreed on a common strategy to prepare for the final phase of the investigations and bring down the whole network. Eurojust not only assisted with setting up and financing the JITS, but organised 15 coordination meetings to prepare for the action day and set up a coordination centre to provide cross-border judicial assistance.  From the onset, Europol has provided continuous intelligence development and analysis which allowed for the identification of the targets and the mapping of their criminal activities. During the action day, a total of 4 of its officers were deployed on the ground in France, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Spain, ensuring the swift analysis of data as it was being collected and adjusting the strategy as required. Eurojust Vice-President and National Member for Lithuania Ms Margarita Sniutyte-Daugeliene stated: This action day is the result of an exemplary and outstanding cooperation between judiciary and law enforcement, with the pro-active support of both Eurojust and Europol. This enabled a long term monitoring and well prepared operation, taking down at the same time several linked organised crime groups involved in large-scale drug trafficking. Commenting on this operation, the Head of Europol’s Serious Organised Crime Centre, Jari Liukku, said: Criminals are good at cooperating across borders – operations like this one today shows them law enforcement and judicial authorities can do just as well. The success of this operation shows how powerful and far-reaching our actions can be when we join forces to turn the tables on these high-risk criminals, regardless of where they are located. The following authorities took part in these investigations:  Lithuania: Criminal Police Bureau; Organised Crime and Corruption Investigation Department Prosecutor General’s Office  Czech Republic: National Drug Headquarters Criminal Police; Regional Public Prosecutor´s Office Ústí nad Labem, Liberec branch Latvia: 2nd Unit (Drug Enforcement) Serious and Serial Organised Crime Enforcement Department Central Criminal Police Department of the State Police of Latvia; Specialised Prosecution Office for Organised Crime and Other Branches Spain: Civil Guard (Guardia Civil); Investigative Court no. 1 Marbella; Specialised International Cooperation Public Prosecutor’s Office Málaga United States: Drug Enforcement Administration (US DEA)  Poland: Nadbuzanski Unit of Border Guard/ Lublin Branch Office of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Lublin  Norway: Police France: National Police (OFAST) and National Gendarmerie ( Gendarmerie Nationale – Section de Recherches Marseille – PACA); National Jurisdiction Against Organised Crime (JUNALCO) Slovakia: National Crime Agency, Special Prosecutor's Office Hungary: RSSPS National Bureau of Investigation Germany: State Criminal Office (LKA) Berlin/ REOC Special Unit 412; Public Prosecutor’s Office Berlin  

More than 350 inspections took place in the joint action days in September. Investigators detected irregularities in connection to 17 companies (one in Italy, one in the Netherlands, three in Spain and 12 in Portugal). The relevant authorities opened criminal proceedings against one of these companies. The national authorities conducted the checks mainly at Brazilian ports for the export and European ports searching for illegal imports. Criminal networks use document forgery dissimulate the origin of the timber or the actual species in the shipment to pass customs controls and reach the consumers. Corruption is also an enabler of this criminal activity.   Illegal timber trade affecting climate change This is the first time when source and destination countries for illegal timber trade joint forces in coordinated inspection of countries trading with timber. The inspections focused on different criminal activities used by criminal networks to enable illegal timber trade including document fraud and bribery to dissimilate the origin or the true species of the goods. The timber is used in for a wide diversity of purposes including construction or creating of ornaments, while the rare origin is appreciated for its natural characteristics. The obtained profits are not taxed, leading to tax evasion. Criminal networks the launder these illegal profits by placing them in legal financial system and thus, integrating them into the legitimate economy. However, the illegal trade contributes significantly to current deforestation in the origin countries, depleting their natural resources. According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space research, the deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon rose at least 28% in 2020.  Europol coordinated the operational activities, facilitated the information exchange and provided analytical support. During the action days, Europol deployed experts to Netherlands to support the field activities. This enabled Europol to facilitate the real-time exchange of information and support with operational analysis to provide clues to investigators on the ground.  

To assist these first responding officers, a new set of training guidelines have been published today on the occasion of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. This toolkit is the result of a collaboration between Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) and the European Cybercrime Training and Education Group (ECTEG) in the framework of the GRACE project.  The guidelines will equip first responding officers with the necessary knowledge to effectively handle delicate situations that take place at a victim’s close whereabouts, such as their home or school, often hidden from the eyes of the public. The guidelines are prepared in a way that encompasses the unified standards that these officers can use in their daily work, equipping them with relevant information on how best to respond if they came across a child they believe is being subjected to sexual abuse. The restricted version of these guidelines will be embedded into the ECTEG’s eFirst project, as part of the knowledge base that every law enforcement officer should be aware of, regardless of their field of work.  Read the public version. About the authors GRACE (Global Response Against Child Exploitation) is an EU-funded Horizon 2020 project that aims to equip European law enforcement agencies with advanced analytical and investigative capabilities to respond to the spread of online CSEM that will help safeguard victims and prosecute offenders. GRACE will be running until November 2023 to apply proven technologies to referral and analysis processes while embracing the technical, ethical and legal challenges unique to fighting child sexual exploitation. GRACE is leveraging resources already in place at Europol and participating EU Member States aiming to provide results early, frequently and flexibly – watch the GRACE video. Europol is one of the 22 organisations across 14 countries in Europe that have come together to deliver GRACE. Its Innovation Lab is coordinating Europol’s participation in this project, while supporting numerous EU-funded projects with an advisory role. The European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) was set up to strengthen the law enforcement response to cybercrime in the EU and thus to help protect European citizens, businesses and governments from online crime. As a form of cybercrime, child sexual exploitation is one of the EU’s priorities in the fight against serious and organised crime as part of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). ECTEG is the European Cybercrime Training and Education Group, an international non-profit organisation funded by the EU Commission. ECTEG comprises of participants from European Union Member States and candidate countries' law enforcement agencies, international bodies, academia and private industry.  ECTEG’S eFIRST is a first responders e-learning tool that focuses on essential IT forensics and cybercrime, available in English and translated with adapted content in several EU languages. For more information about these guidelines: •    For law enforcement: Reach out to Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre  •    For the general public: Reach out to Europol’s Press Office For more information about GRACE, visit the project website or follow the project’s progress on Twitter and LinkedIn. GRACE has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement Number 883341. We encourage you to disclose the abuse to a professional or adult you trust in your school, child protection services or similar institutions. It is not your fault. You are not in trouble. We want you to be safe. You are not alone.

Operations against food fraud target criminal networks that can seriously harm consumer health and safety. From rotten tuna to fake vodka with methyl alcohol and counterfeit vitamins, illegal food and beverages are a serious threat to EU citizens, who are often unaware that they are consuming poisonous products. To detect criminal activities, the national authorities conducted checks in customs areas, in physical and online market places, and across the food supply chain. Operational actions focused on seafood fraud and conducted targeted actions on alcohol and wine.  Seizures and activities reported to Europol 26 800 tonnes of illicit products seized  15 million litres of alcoholic beverages About 74 000 checks 80 arrest warrants 137 individuals reported to judicial authorities 175+ criminal cases opened 2 078 administrative cases opened 8 criminal networks disrupted   What are the main illegal products seized?  (in order of quantity) Alcoholic beverages Cereals, grains and derived products Fruits/vegetables/legumes Food supplements/additives Sugar and sweet products Meat and meat products Seafood  Dairy products Poultry products Winemakers that faked it The Italian NAS Carabinieri reported to the judicial authorities the owners of a winery who produced and marketed sophisticated and altered wine. The producers added water and sugar to some of the labels. To others, they added natural aromas, not corresponding to the quality of the wine advertised to the buyers. In some cases, they also declared a higher alcohol content than the actual one. The Italian authorities seized the winery, 11 motor vehicles and 1 million litres of wine. A spicy smell of gardenia  The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) dismantled a criminal network selling molecularly modified gardenia as the highly expensive saffron spice. The suspects imported the extract of gardenia from Asia. The national authorities investigated 3 companies, arrested 11 people and seized 10 000 kg of the gardenia extract, which – if sold as saffron – would have been worth about EUR 750 000. This case also highlights a growing phenomenon: more and more spices and condiments have been adulterated and trafficked recently. Bad meat  The operational actions also targeted meat unfit for consumption. One action involved the Portuguese authority responsible for food safety and economic surveillance (Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica), which ran an operation against a clandestine slaughterhouse. The officers raided two homes suspected of being used as locations for the illegal slaughter and roasting of pigs. The actions resulted in the seizure of 60 piglet carcasses. The officers dismantled the sites, which had no license, poor hygiene conditions and no veterinary control – all of which are mandatory for such activities. Because the meat produced there could not be traced, it did not meet the minimum conditions for consumption. Other operations, which targeted the illegal meat trade, seized horse meat unfit for consumption, old meat to be reintroduced into the food supply chain and processed food with expired consumption dates.   Fresh or not France, Italy and Switzerland carried out a sampling activity on fish. They were checking if the indication of ‘freshness’ declared on the label was ‘true’ or ‘fraudulent’. The samples were collected and subsequently processed and analysed according to the standard operating procedure. The results provided fraud indicators, which will make future inspections more effective.  Europol’s Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition is co-funded by EUIPO to combat intellectual property crime. Participating countries reporting to Europol * Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, the United States.  

The first phase of the action took place less than a year ago in Barcelona and was decisive in obtaining conclusive evidence against this criminal organisation. Following an analysis of devices and documentation seized on the first action day, investigators were able to link 10 people with bringing 117 tons of hashish and over 3 tons of cocaine into Spain. During the second phase of the action, the Guardia Civil raided venues in Barcelona, Ceuta, Almería and Malaga, where the suspects of Spanish, German and Moroccan nationality were apprehended. Among them is the main suspect’s lawyer, who specialises in cases related to drug trafficking. Impressive list of seized valuables and criminal assets In total, Spanish authorities arrested 27 suspects in the two-phase action, who were relying on assets such as 39 phones, a satellite phone, 8 computers, 3 microphone scanners as well as a cash counting machine to conduct their criminal activities. The most tangible of the items seized include 14 tons of hashish, 5.1 tons of cocaine and more than 1 million EUR in cash, which are now in the hands of law enforcement.  The organised crime group clandestinely imported boats and powerful engines from the Netherlands, made them ready on a ship off the coast of Portugal, and then used them to collect and transfer the drugs from Morocco to Spain. Three vessels were subsequently seized during the action days, adding to the impressive list of confiscated valuables. These include 11 real estate properties, 5 companies, 36 luxury cars, the contents of 58 bank accounts and 12 luxury watches. Corporate business structure for money laundering Europol’s European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC) was decisive in uncovering a variety of methods used to transfer and launder the proceeds generated by drug trafficking. These include the clandestine transport of large amounts of cash, the use of the hawala system to transfer money, and investments in luxury goods such as yachts, luxury watches, luxury vehicles or real estate property and renovations. The criminal network further invested in companies located in several European countries, and used loans and mortgages to businesses to launder illicit funds.  Europol’s role Europol has been providing analytical and operational support since 2020 and has helped to establish links with other investigations. It facilitated cooperation with other law enforcement agencies and analysed the business activity and corporate structure used to launder the money. Support was also provided on the spot during the action days by deploying a money-laundering specialist with a mobile office.  Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. We also work with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

A number of interceptions made in 2021 in Belgium uncovered the suspects’ links to a migrant smuggling network which was transporting migrants in small boats from France to the UK across the English Channel. The investigation suggests that some of the members of the criminal network were operating from France, while others operated from the UK. The information exchange between involved national authorities through Europol and Eurojust channels led to the identification of a number of suspects.  On 9 November, following this international cooperation at the judicial and law enforcement level, French and UK law enforcement authorities arrested two suspects (one Iraqi and one Kuwaiti national) by order of the investigating judge in Bruges. At the same time, French Border Police made one arrest (one Iraqi national) under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Belgium.  Europol facilitated the information exchange between the participating countries. Europol also provided 24/7 analytical and operational support, and facilitated the real-time exchange of communication between the participating authorities. Law enforcement authorities involved:  Belgium – Belgium Federal Police (Federale Politie/Police Fédérale) France - French Border Police (OCRIEST-BMR Lille) The United Kingdom – Home Office Immigration Enforcement and the Metropolitan Police Judicial authorities involved:  France: Dunkirk Public Prosecutor's Office  Belgium: Prosecution Office of West-Flanders and Investigative Judge in Bruges (Parket Brugge)   --- Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

The two-year-long investigation exposed a Dutch criminal network involved in the large-scale trafficking of dangerous, highly explosive fireworks. The investigation was initiated in 2020 based on intelligence gained from the Encrochat operation. The Dutch and German authorities’ joint investigation uncovered the routes used to transport illegal heavy fireworks from countries such as China across several national borders, including Germany, to reach the Netherlands. The police are increasingly seeing organised criminal networks using highly explosive and dangerous fireworks in acts of violence directed against other criminal groups. The explosives are also being used for criminal activities such as ATM explosive attacks carried out in Germany. Explosives stored dangerously near unsuspecting communities  In October, German and Dutch authorities arrested 11 suspects in total. The three main suspects were arrested in the Netherlands on 17 October. The other eight suspects who were arrested are believed to have played logistical roles, such as facilitating transport, storing the fireworks or acting as a point of contact with buyers. In June, law enforcement authorities in Germany and the Netherlands raided several locations including suspects’ houses, business premises and storage facilities. The German officers uncovered seven sites including bunkers, barns, businesses and containers that were being used for storing the illegal fireworks. The locations were far from meeting the strict safety requirements for the storage of such highly explosive items. In total, 350 tonnes of illegal heavy fireworks, with a commercial value of up to EUR 25 million, were seized. Stockpiles of cash were also discovered. The investigation into the criminal network and the illegal fireworks is ongoing, and further arrests cannot be ruled out. The fireworks will be destroyed once the investigation is completed. Europol set up an operational task force to support this priority investigation. Europol also coordinated operational activities, facilitated information exchange and provided analytical support.   

At the end of October, Polish police officers carried out 82 searches across the country and arrested 44 suspects aged between 18 and 66. The preliminary analysis and the searches led to the identification of 15 500 files of both video and photographic material depicting the sexual abuse of children, and to the seizure of 350 large-capacity digital storage units. Some of the images saved on the seized storage items depicted the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers. As some of the files were encrypted, they will be subjected to further examination once decrypted. The leads gathered during the operational actions have fed further investigations that are still in progress. Among the arrested is an individual suspected of sexual abuse of two children aged four and five, as well as a second individual who has already served a five-and-a-half-year sentence for sexually abusing minors. The operational activities also led to the possible prevention of the victimisation of a child. During the search of a suspect’s house, the officers uncovered correspondence with a 10-year-old boy, which suggests that the adult had obtained the trust of the child for the purpose of his subsequent sexual exploitation. An investigation into a further similar case is now ongoing.   For several years, Europol has served as a destination for NCMEC reports targeting online suspects in various EU Member States, including Poland. Every NCMEC report is stored and cross-checked against Europol data and eventually disseminated to the respective country. Europol supported the Polish operation by providing analytical, victim identification and open-source support, and by facilitating exchanges of information. Note to media: Europol encourages you to use the term ‘child (sexual) abuse material’ and not ‘child pornography’ in your reporting. The use of the term ‘child pornography’ helps child sex abusers as it indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim, and therefore legality on the part of the sex abuser. By using the phrase ‘child pornography’, it conjures up images of children posing in ‘provocative’ positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse. Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused. This is not pornography.  

The operational activities involving 28 countries across Europe were also supported by Eurojust, Frontex, INTERPOL, SELEC and other international organisations. The EMPACT Joint Action Days were planned based on an intelligence-led approach, which involved the cooperation of a wide range of law enforcement authorities including police, customs, immigration agencies and border control agencies.  382 arrests and 130 new investigations The operational activities mainly took place in the Balkans and Southeast Europe. Other countries from across Europe contributed criminal intelligence and conducted operational actions at the national level. Almost 16 000 officers were involved in the actions on the ground. Simultaneously, between 24 and 29 October, national authorities coordinated special activities that targeted human trafficking networks involved in sexual exploitation, forced begging and forced criminality. The results of these actions will be released in a second communication.   In total, the activities led to 382 arrests of suspects, the majority of whom were alleged to be involved in drug trafficking, facilitation of illegal immigration, document fraud and the trafficking of firearms. Officers on the ground detected a number of offences related to the facilitation of illegal immigration and related legal violations such as document fraud. The arrests and evidence retrieved has allowed law enforcement authorities to initiate 130 new investigations.  Overall results:  74 924 people checked 998 locations searched 32 665 vehicles inspected 2 004 packages/parcels checked 382 arrests: 159 related to migrant smuggling, 112 related to drug trafficking, 38 related to firearms trafficking, 2 related to trafficking and human beings 71 related to other crimes.  2 476 illegal entries detected Seizures include: 106 firearms: 43 rifles, 42 pistols, 6 air guns, 1 anti-personnel mine, 1 air defense system, 15 grenades, 2 machines for assembling, 2 antitank missiles and  12 250 pieces of ammunition Drugs: 304 kg of heroin, 147 kilograms of cannabis, 5 402 plants of marijuana and 1.3 kg of cocaine 130 new investigations initiated  Drugs and firearms traffickers targeted along the Balkan route The Balkan route is notorious for its use in a number of crime areas, including migrant smuggling and the trafficking of firearms and drugs into the EU. Multinational criminal groups source the weapons predominantly from countries in the Western Balkans, where human resources with expertise in firearms are widely available. The firearms are then trafficked to the EU - mainly to Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. On the other hand, the Balkan route is a key entry point for heroin traffickers, while cannabis and cocaine traffickers also use this transition point.  Drug trafficking and the illegal trade in weapons are closely connected, especially in connection to cocaine trafficking networks. In some cases, criminal networks exchange weapons for drugs. They also use the weapons to gain and maintain control over lucrative drug markets. The illegal market for weapons has remained stable in recent years, both in terms of products offered and intensity of trade. The firearms present on the black market range from old to new military grade weapons. Blank-firing weapons, later converted into real ones, are also an issue. Coordinated activities of national authorities in the Western Balkans contribute to detecting this trafficking and, during the Joint Action Days, led to the interception of both drugs and firearms. Intensified checks to detect trafficking along the Silk Road  Weapons are often smuggled as part of multi-commodity shipments or hidden in vehicles. This is similar to how drugs are smuggled, examples being cocaine concealed in construction material or fruit shipments, or heroin in hidden compartments in vehicles. Drug traffickers still utilise the ancient Silk Road network of routes to bring heroin to the EU market. Migrant smuggling activities are also intense in these areas.  As an important logistical hub, the Balkan route sees thousands of trucks entering the EU with different goods, including food and construction material. National authorities focused therefore on major entry points.  An example is Europe’s biggest land entry point - Bulgaria’s Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint at the border with Turkiye - which sees about 1 500 trucks with different goods enter the EU every day. As criminal networks are highly international, their supply chain and markets affect multiple countries and pose a threat to the EU as a whole. Europol’s EU SOCTA 2021 outlines that 80% of the criminal networks active in the EU use legal structures to facilitate their criminal activities.  The EMPACT Joint Action Days were made possible through the cooperation of border guards, customs authorities and national units. The exchange of operational information and joint investigations during the operation contributed to more interceptions and the development of ongoing cases. Europol supported the coordination of the EMPACT Joint Action Days and facilitated the exchange of information between the participating countries. During the course of the operation, Montenegro, with the support of the CSC WB IPA 2019 Project, hosted an operational centre to enable the swift exchange of operational information between the participants. A Europol analyst was deployed to the operational centre to provide live analytical support to field operatives. During the action week, Europol also deployed an expert to Bosnia and Herzegovina to facilitate the real-time exchange of communication between the participating authorities. Europol also deployed officers to support the Moldavian authorities. Further support has been provided in the context of the war of aggression against Ukraine to mitigate the threats of arms trafficking into the EU. Participants EU Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.  Non-EU Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Kingdom.  EU Agencies: Europol, Eurojust, Frontex International and institutional partners: EUBAM, IPA/2019  (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance) countering serious and organised crime in the Western Balkans, INTERPOL, PCC-SEE (Police Cooperation Convention For Southeast Europe Secretariat), SEESAC (The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons) and SELEC (Southeast European Law Enforcement Centre). * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.  

The annual event was launched in 2017 to gather law enforcement and private sector entities involved in the fight against intellectual property crime and provide a platform for public-private cooperation and innovation in this joint cause. After two years of online meetings, this 2022 edition responds to a growing need for an in-person gathering and networking among the attendees representing law enforcement agencies from 45 countries as well as 140 private entities.  Counterfeiting and piracy continue to pose a serious threat to the health and safety of consumers, as well as to the European economy. Imports of counterfeit and pirated goods reached EUR 119 billion in 2019, accounting for 5.8 % of all goods entering the European Union. The latest Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment, produced jointly between Europol and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), reveals that the distribution of counterfeit goods has been thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Deputy Executive Director of Europol, commented: Law enforcement and the industry community are required to adapt rapidly when facing the challenges presented in crises. Be it fake vaccines and medical devices, the pressure on the automotive spare parts market due to supply chain interruptions, or the distribution of counterfeit pesticides, intellectual property crime shows to be particularly reactive to crises. In light of these challenges, the importance of an effective public-private partnership is ever-growing. All major Europol operations targeting intellectual property crime involve close cooperation with private partners. Lieutenant General Giuseppe Vicanolo, Deputy General Commander of the Guardia di Finanza added: The importance of the interests involved in the protection of intellectual property and in the fight against related economic and financial violations, together with the complexity of the investigations on an international scale, make it necessary to pursue the most effective cooperation among institutions and other actors. Our institution is fully aware of that and will make any useful contribution for these purposes. Bob Barchiesi, President of IACC remarked: This conference is a platform for public and private entities to find synergies and solutions in the common fight against intellectual property crime. Our yearly event allows consolidation of partnerships and cooperation among public and private stakeholders. Recent crises have presented new criminal business opportunities for the distribution of counterfeit and substandard goods. Criminal networks involved in IP crime have been highly adaptable in adjusting their business model by shifting product focus and marketing as well as means of transport and routes. The yearly event gives the opportunity to collect useful information from brand owners about possible fraudulent practices and to share it with police bodies and customs. While the two-day conference centred on challenges in the context of crises, the 55 speakers shed light on further developments observed in recent times. While most counterfeit and substandard goods distributed in the EU are produced outside its borders, the frequent seizure of counterfeit packaging materials and semi-finished products upon import indicates the presence of manufacturing facilities in the EU. Another issue is the laundering of criminal proceeds, which is performed in both traditional and more sophisticated schemes relying on technology, trade-based money laundering, and offshore jurisdictions. These and more key topics will remain the focus of the public-private partnership which is set to convene again in Portugal next year.

Under the theme “The Evolution of Policing – do we need a social contract in cyber space?” Europol’s Cybercrime Conference looked at the challenges and opportunities that the digital age present to policing.  This two-day conference (19-20 October) organised by Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) saw the participation of over 150 organisations and more than 58 different law enforcement agencies engaging in fruitful discussions on how to tackle the challenges at hand and proactively prepare for emerging technologies.   Key themes discussed included:  Criminal investigations in the digital age The role of law enforcement in keeping the metaverse safe and secure Emerging technologies – separating fiction from real impact The future law enforcement officer – in which areas do we need to invest?  The topic of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine was high on the agenda. This was reflected in this year’s keynote speeches, with Mikko Hyppönen from WithSecure delving into how technology is shaping conflicts and crises. In a moving address, a senior inspector at the Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine went on to explain the impact the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has had on their policing priorities.  In his closing remarks, the Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, Edvardas Šileris, said: These two days of lively, solution-orientated discussions between law enforcement, the industry and academia have proved how central public-private partnerships have become to running criminal investigations in the digital domain. I look forward to continue building on our trust relationships to deliver an improved international response to the ever-changing criminal landscape.  The conclusions of the conference, emphasised that:  Policing requires a future-proof and agile legal framework to operate in the digital age; regulation and innovation have to complement one another.  Public and private partnerships remain an essential dimension in the fight against cybercrime. While safety, security and privacy are the essence of our social contract, developments like the metaverse, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, etc. show the constant need for adaptation and evolution, at regional, national, and global level.  

Europol Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle: I believe it is important for police to anticipate changes to the reality in which they have to provide safety and security. The metaverse will bring about new ways of interacting and whole new virtual worlds to live in, potentially transforming our lives, just as the internet has done in the last three decades. As our discussions at the European Police Chiefs Convention this year demonstrated, this report from the Europol Innovation Lab will undoubtedly help law enforcement agencies to begin to grasp this new world, in order to adapt and prepare for policing in the metaverse. Recommendations for tackling criminal uses within the metaverse What (safety) measures do we require metaverse service providers to implement, and what tools should law enforcement be given to police the metaverse? To be a serious partner in these discussions, the law enforcement community will have to build an understanding of the relevant technologies and what is needed to effectively protect (and investigate) in the metaverse. The report provides several suggestions on first steps for building this experience, as well as further positive examples of how law enforcement agencies are innovating in this field. Monitoring and experiencing the metaverse and related technologies, learning what is happening as well as engaging with the companies creating it, will be essential in understanding and shaping policing in the non-physical world. About the Europol Innovation Lab Europol's Innovation Lab aims to identify, promote and develop concrete innovative solutions in support of the EU Member States’ operational work. These will help investigators and analysts to make the most of the opportunities offered by new technologies to avoid duplication of work, create synergies and pool resources. The activities of the Innovation Lab are directly linked to the strategic priorities as laid out in Europol Strategy 2020+, which states that Europol shall be at the forefront of law enforcement innovation and research. Download the report Policing in the Metaverse: what law enforcement needs to know.  

This arrest follows a complex investigation initiated in December 2019 by the German Police Headquarters Ludwigsburg (Polizeipräsidium Ludwigsburg) with the support of Europol’s European Financial and Economic Crime Centre.  The action day has resulted in:  The arrest of an individual considered as a high-value target by Europol for his involvement in numerous high-profile cases throughout Europe.  37 property searches Germany (18), the Netherlands (12), Spain (4) and Hungary (3). Giving victims a false sense of legitimacy The investigation uncovered how this criminal would pose as an employee of a real, Geneva-based investment company and would reach out to unsuspecting victims to persuade them to part with their savings, promising lucrative investment companies. In order to fabricate a sense of legitimacy, the scammer had set-up a ‘spoofed’ website which looked nearly identical to the real company’s website. Investment documents which appeared to have been made by recognisable banks and insurance companies were also provided to prospective victims to trick them. The investors were instructed to send funds via wire transfer to bank accounts controlled by the criminal.  Once the payments had been made, the scammer would disappear with the money, moving the stolen funds from one jurisdiction to the other to conceal their illegal origin. The investigators were able to track down the stolen funds all the way to Türkiye. European coordination  International police cooperation was central in bringing the perpetrator to justice as the criminal had set up a sophisticated infrastructure spread across multiple countries to hamper law enforcement’s abilities to track him down.  Europol’s European Financial and Economic Crime Centre supported the investigation by bringing together the national investigators to establish a joint strategy and to organising the intensive exchange of evidence needed to prepare for final phase of the investigation. Europol experts from its European Financial and Economic Crime Centre were also deployed to Spain to assist the Spanish national authorities with the action day. The following authorities took part in this investigation: Germany: Police Headquarters Ludwigsburg (Polizeipräsidium Ludwigsburg) The Netherlands: National Politie (Politie)  Spain: National Police (Policía Nacional) Hungary: National Police Headquarters Budapest  This investigation was carried out with the financial support of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). Better safe than sorry  Europol encourages prospective investors to:  Don’t rely on unsolicited marketing material/calls/emails or social media direct contact: Do an internet search for the company name and verify the contact information with the financial institution or firm directly. Compare and confirm websites: Check for misspellings in the website, the complete website name (URL) and email address. Also, many consumer protection and financial market supervisory authorities publish lists of abused websites and warnings on current frauds.  Avoid unusual payment methods:  Be cautious if you are instructed to send funds via wire transfer to an off-shore location, or if you are instructed to pay using cryptocurrency or other unusual payment method.  

We were also delighted to showcase The Recovered Collection for our visitors last weekend, which is a special art exhibition made possible thanks to the hard work of Italy’s Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, otherwise known as the Carabinieri TPC.  Why Europol is backing Just Peace Month As one of the largest EU agencies in The Hague, Europol is a host to citizens from across the EU – as well as dozens of other countries from all corners of the globe. We are part of a community of EU and international agencies in The Hague, working hand-in-glove to deliver the values of rule of law and a more secure society. Open days and visits through the Just Peace Month provide means for agencies like Europol to have dialogue with the public – the people we work in service of – and to introduce some of the remarkable people and capabilities here at the agency. We’re backing Just Peace Month because it is a chance for transparency, dialogue and learning; key pillars of the EU and our work as law enforcement. The theme for this year’s Just Peace Month is ‘hope in times of adversity’. With multiple crises facing the world right now – many of which will require a law enforcement response and cross-border cooperation – we were pleased to meet and explain our remit to members of the public at this time. The Recovered Collection Visitors to Europol’s HQ on the Sunday had the opportunity to visit The Recovered Collection, which is a special art exhibition that is temporarily on display at headquarters.  The Recovered Collection features artefacts and artworks that tell important stories of Europe’s cultural heritage. It includes rare pottery, handcrafted statues, mirrors, vases and even pieces of armour from the ancient era. Yet unlike a normal art collection, which is curated and donated by museums, art lovers and collectors, The Recovered Collection is somewhat different. All the pieces in the exhibition were recovered from organised criminals by the Italian Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (TPC).  These rare and sometimes priceless pieces of history were stolen from legitimate collectors or excavated illegally from historical sites by organised criminals. The Recovered Collection shows some of the seizures from just four of the many operations conducted by the TPC, many of which are supported by Europol. In fact, these four operations alone have recovered tens of millions of euros’ worth of rare historical and modern cultural goods – just one way law enforcement cooperation is working hard to take money out of criminal pockets. It was our pleasure to host these works for the public at our HQ. Find out more about Europol’s work recovering cultural goods and stolen art on the dedicated page on our website. If you’d like to take part in a future visit to Europol, be sure to follow Europol and The Hague Humanity Hub on social media. Or sign up for the walking tour on 21 October via the Just Peace website.  

The criminals targeted vehicles with keyless entry and start systems, exploiting the technology to get into the car and drive away.  As a result of a coordinated action carried out on 10 October in the three countries involved, 31 suspects were arrested. A total of 22 locations were searched, and over EUR 1 098 500 in criminal assets seized.  The criminals targeted keyless vehicles from two French car manufacturers. A fraudulent tool – marketed as an automotive diagnostic solution, was used to replace the original software of the vehicles, allowing the doors to be opened and the ignition to be started without the actual key fob.  Among those arrested feature the software developers, its resellers and the car thieves who used this tool to steal vehicles.  The investigation was initiated by the French Gendarmerie’s Cybercrime Centre (C3N). Europol has been supporting this case since March 2022 with extensive analysis and the dissemination of intelligence packages to all the countries affected by this crime. Two operational meetings were organised at Europol’s headquarters to jointly decide on the final phase of the investigation. A Europol mobile office was also deployed to France for the action day to assist the French authorities with their investigative measures.  The case was opened at Eurojust by the French authorities in September 2022. The Agency actively facilitated cross-border judicial cooperation between the national authorities involved, including the organisation of the joint action day. The following authorities took part in the investigation: France: National Jurisdiction against Organised Crime (JUNALCO), National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) Latvia: State Police of Latvia  Spain: Investigative Court num. 2 in Palma de Mallorca Balearic Islands PPO This investigation was carried out with the financial support of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF) SWORD.  *** Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

The action week resulted in: 17 arrests in France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Ukraine 42 suspected traffickers identified in Cyprus, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and Ukraine  874 workers affected by exploitation and labour violations identified (including 231 identified as possible victims of trafficking of human beings and exploitation) 4 291 locations (including vineyards and farms) checked 1 087 vehicles checked 37 017 people checked 36 new investigations initiated  192 suspected violations recorded by labour inspectors Seasonal workers remain at high risk of exploitation The agricultural sector is more vulnerable to exploitation practices due to various factors, including the high level of informality (undeclared or under-declared work) and the sector’s predominantly low-skilled workforce. The risk of exploitation is even higher for seasonal jobs. Criminal networks often recruit victims from their countries of origin and exploit them in other countries. Victims are then coerced into working long hours for low wages or none at all, or working in deplorable conditions with no possibility of travelling back to their home countries. EU citizens are mostly exploited in the agricultural sector year-round, while non-EU citizens are employed in seasonal work. Investigators have detected specific modus operandi used in this criminal area, including the use of look-a-like and falsified documents and forged residence permits for the exploitation of non-EU nationals and violation of minimum wage laws.  The fight against human trafficking for labour exploitation requires a consolidated, cross-border and multi-disciplinary effort by different authorities. This is the second year that the European Labour Authority has coordinated joint inspections and supported the deployment of labour inspectors from workers’ countries of origin to destination countries. Inspectors from Bulgaria and Portugal joined French authorities to inspect different locations in France, including vineyards, farms and locations operated by the forestry sector. Officers of the Finnish labour authority participated in the joint actions in Belgium involving the floriculture industry. Europol coordinated the action days and facilitated the information exchange between the participating countries. Europol provided analytical and operational support 24/7 and facilitated the real-time exchange of communication between the participating authorities. Participating countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and United Kingdom *** Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer. The European Labour Authority (ELA) was created to help Member States to effectively enforce labour mobility rules within the EU, including the coordination and support of cross-border inspections. 

Composed mainly of Syrian nationals, the criminal network running this ‘bank’ provided financial services to criminal organisations linked to drug trafficking in more than twenty countries. Active since 2020, this criminal gang is believed to have laundered over EUR 300 million per year.  On 27 September, over 200 law enforcement officers raided a total of 21 locations in the Spanish provinces of Málaga and Toledo, resulting in 32 arrests and the seizure of almost EUR 3 million of criminal assets. Details of the seizures: EUR 428 205 in cash 19 cryptocurrency accounts worth EUR 1.5 million 11 luxury vehicles 70 kilos of hashish, 1.2 tonnes of marijuana and a plantation with 995 marijuana plants These seizures follow that of EUR 2.9 million in cash made over the course of the investigation.  Organised crime groups could make payments, receive funds and even have their proceeds laundered by this internationally structured financial network.  The Spanish city of Fuenlabrada appeared to be the centre of the underground bank. The criminals ran their money laundering activities from a local restaurant where their customers would come to deposit or collect bulk cash. The hawala informal money transfer system was the main money laundering typology used to avoid law enforcement detection.   Europol’s support was central in the development of the Spanish investigation. Since May 2020, Europol has been providing continuous intelligence development and analysis to map out the international activity of this criminal network. Two experts from its European Financial and Economic Crime Centre were also deployed to Madrid to assist the Spanish investigation with the cross-checking of operational information during the action day.  This investigation was financially supported by the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).  *** Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.

This individual, residing in the east of the Netherlands, is believed to have been supplying Russia with goods which could have been used for military purposes.  The investigation uncovered how the suspect supplied microchips to companies/entities in Russia, among other things. These microchips can be used for the production of weapons. Russia’s arms industry is currently struggling with a serious shortage of such microchips.  The suspect is believed to have deliberately pretended that these goods had a different destination that the actual final one (Russia) in order to circumvent the EU-imposed trade sanctions, prompting the Dutch FIOD to take action. 

Co-hosted this year by Europol and the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, represented by their Police President Martin Vondrášek, on 4-5 October the EPCC brought together over 380 high-level representatives from 49 countries to discuss ways to address today’s security challenges while securing tomorrow’s opportunities.  Keynote speeches were delivered by the Director General of the Spanish National Police Francisco Pardo Piqueras, the Head of the National Police of Ukraine, the New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner and the Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights Michael O'Flaherty, among others.  Opening the EPCC, Europol’s Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle, commented: The pandemic, the ensuing economic crisis and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine have profoundly changed the internal security landscape in Europe. More than ever, law enforcement needs to be resilient in such uncertain times. This resilience is not only built through countering the threats which have materialised, but also preparing for the ones which are still on the horizon. Europol’s EPCC allows for this cooperation to happen on every level while showing the way forward for law enforcement. The topic of Ukraine was high up on this year’s agenda. In a moving address, the Head of the National Police of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, explained how Ukrainian law enforcement has had to learn to work in new, difficult conditions. Yet their overarching goal remains the same – to protect people’s lives. Europol’s Executive Director assured him of the full support of the European law enforcement community who has continued to maintain close contact with the Ukrainian authorities through the Ukrainian Liaison Officer posted at Europol’s headquarters. Keynote speakers also underlined the need to innovate, to strengthen resilience of  police forces, and to win back the trust and support of the public communities. In this regard, the NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell highlighted the importance of inclusivity in law enforcement, pointing out that "the public has to see themselves in the communities we serve, and we must see ourselves in them”. Commissioner Sewell went on to add that “inclusion strengthens the collective and interconnects the stakeholders of public safety. When we diversify, we normalise the unusual.” This was echoed in the keynote address of the Italian Deputy Director-General of Public Security, Vittorio Rizzi, who called for a greater exchange of best practices on the matter. “Law enforcement needs the societal consensus to administer the most precious responsibility entrusted to police forces in every democracy: the safety and security of our communities”, he added.   The European Customs DG meeting also took place alongside the EPCC, with the police-customs cooperation being one of the priorities of the Czech Presidency.  One place to meet all  With high-level delegations from over 49 countries and 10 organisations, the EPCC has become the key annual event for chiefs of police to meet their European and international peers all under one roof.  Bilateral and multilateral meetings took place at Europol’s headquarters, allowing the delegates to discuss operational matters and further strengthen their cooperation.  Working Arrangement with Qatar  On the margins of the EPCC, a Working Arrangement was signed between the Ministry of Interior of the State of Qatar and Europol. This Arrangement introduces a secure system for the exchange of information between Qatar with law enforcement authorities of the EU Member States, as well as with third countries and organisations associated with Europol. This follows a Liaison Officer Agreement signed in September by Europol and the United Arab Emirates, further linking the Middle East with their European counterparts.  Innovation as the main driving force  The need for innovation underpinned all of this year’s EPCC discussions, with law enforcement increasingly having to operate in a digital environment characterised by ever increasing volumes of information.  Artificial intelligence (AI) was one such topic discussed, with the delegates confirming the concerns raised in the Joint Declaration of European Police Chiefs on the AI Act of May 2022. While the Police Chiefs welcome the European’s Commission’s  initiative to regulate AI, they believe it essential that the rules adopted take into account the specificities of the operational work carried out by law enforcement.  A workshop was also dedicated to policing the metaverse. While this virtual environment is still at an early stage, the delegates assessed and anticipated its potential criminal exploitation to develop the right response and skills needed to mitigate such a threat. A number of the key findings can be found in the latest report of the Observatory Function of the Europol Innovation Lab on the topic.  Following the success of last year’s edition, the Europol Excellence Award in Innovation was awarded to the most innovative initiatives and operations in law enforcement. A total of 70 entries were submitted from law enforcement authorities across 14 countries, with the French Gendarmerie winning the Excellence Award for the most innovative project and the German Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) winning the Excellence Award for the most innovative operation.  Where the new meets the old  Two exhibitions were unveiled at Europol’s headquarters on the occasion of the EPCC:  •    The Czech Presidency showcased its new technological advances, such as drones, biometric sets and radiation detection equipment aimed to make law enforcement work more efficient and accurate.  •    The Italian Arma dei Carabinieri presented artefacts rescued in police operations against the trafficking of cultural goods. The archaeological goods on show include a Corinthian helmet, a marble Arturo Dazzi statue stolen from a private chapel and an Etruscan stamnos. This exhibition will be made open to the public on the occasion of the Just Peace Open Day organised on 16 October by the Hague Humanity Hub.   

The action day led to: 9 location searches in Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga and Valencia; 12 persons arrested; one clandestine print shop dismantled; the following seizures: EUR 4.3 million in high-quality fake 500 euro banknotes and a large amount of equipment (several printing presses, an exposure unit, a hot stamping machine, a paper guillotine and raw materials). The counterfeiters were using top-end technology to produce counterfeit euro bills, in what are considered to be some of the most sophisticated fakes ever detected in the EU. The advanced technological design and the good condition of the forgeries make these the most dangerous counterfeits produced in the EU in recent years. Investigators from the Bank of Spain's Investigation Brigade identified the main suspect behind the print shop as an individual already known by authorities detained for similar criminal activities in 2009. Although these counterfeit bills were of higher quality, they had similar features to counterfeits produced in 2009. This is what led authorities to link the counterfeits to the same suspect.  In 2021, the Spanish Regional Catalan Police found a bag with about EUR 4 million in fake 500 euro bills. The Analysis Centre of the Bank of Spain confirmed that the fakes were the same as the ones from the most recent batch of counterfeits. The investigators estimate that in as little as three months’ time, the criminal network printed more than EUR 8 million in this clandestine print shop, which was dismantled in September. The members of the criminal network had different functions, from supplying raw materials, mainly from China, to managing the printing equipment. The fake money was used for different criminal activities including drug trafficking.  Europol facilitated the information exchange, and financed and coordinated a number of operational activities. Europol also provided analytical support identifying the country in which the banknotes were distributed. During the action day, Europol deployed an expert to Spain to offer technical support and cross-checked operational information against Europol’s databases and the systems of the European Central Bank.  Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

The Working Arrangement introduces a secure system for the exchange of information between the parties, linking Qatar with the law enforcement authorities of the Member States, as well as with third countries and organisations associated with Europol.  The cooperation may, in addition to the exchange of information, include the exchange of specialist knowledge, general situation reports, results of strategic analysis, participation in training activities as well as providing advice and support in individual criminal investigations.  Based on this Working Arrangement, Qatar can deploy a liaison officer to Europol’s headquarters in the Netherlands to join a unique community of liaison bureaux of law enforcement authorities from more than 40 countries from across the world. Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle said: Today marks the start of a fruitful collaboration between the law enforcement authorities of Qatar and their counterparts in the European Union. Europol is looking forward to hosting a Qatari liaison officer in its headquarters in The Hague, further enabling a trustful flow of information in our collective fight against organised crime and terrorism. Major General Khalifa Nasr Al-Nasr, Director of the Human Resources Department at the Ministry of Interior, Qatar said: In a global framework, no country can operate in a vacuum.  Qatar is committed to identifying and further enhancing areas of cooperation with the world's foremost law enforcement organisation.  Europol's global tools and international law enforcement networks will further support our national and regional security efforts. After entry into force of the Arrangement, this new level of cooperation will be important for tackling priority crime areas affecting both the European Union and Qatar.   

Europol received more than 70 nominations from law enforcement organisations across 14 countries in Europe, of which two have been selected: one award for the most innovative law enforcement project and one award for the most innovative law enforcement operation.  The winners of the two awards were carefully assessed and selected by a dedicated panel, which included the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, the Police Chiefs of France, the Czech Republic and Sweden, and Europol’s Executive Director. The Head of the Europol Innovation Lab, Grégory Mounier said: Innovation is at the heart of modern policing, and Europol is striving to ensure that the European law enforcement community benefits from the most innovative technologies and tools to keep European citizens safe. The outstanding quality of the 70 projects and operations nominated this year, is not only a success for the Europol Excellence Awards in Innovation but it is also a testimony of the incredible innovative and creative spirit that drives our law enforcement colleagues around Europe. The Europol Innovation Lab will invite the most promising nominees to take part in follow-up events, with the aim of sharing innovative ideas with the larger European law enforcement community. The Excellence Award for the most innovative project  The award for the most innovative project went this year to the French Gendarmerie for the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Tools Platform. The platform provides a suite of advanced criminal analysis tools specifically developed to enable police officers to benefit from artificial intelligence when processing criminal information. The platform includes fingerprint analysis and a comparison tool, firearms and drug detection function, speech to text transcription, entity extraction and automatic translation tools in more than 100 languages.  The tools were developed in the framework of EU Horizon 2020 projects and under the supervision of the data protection authority of the French Gendarmerie. The platform is currently available to 600 criminal analysts across France and tools are made available to other law enforcement agencies in Europe via the Europol Innovation Lab Tool repository.  The Excellence Award for the most innovative operation The most innovative operation was awarded to the German Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) for Operation HYDRA. In April 2022, the BKA, in partnership with the United States and Europol, took down the largest ever darknet market place in the world with more than 16 million users and an estimated annual turnover of more than EUR 1.23 billion. As a result of the BKA's innovative approach, the entire criminal infrastructure was rendered unusable and led to the seizure of more than 50 servers and 1.9 petabytes of data.   Innovation in international Law Enforcement cooperation The Europol Excellence Awards in Innovation highlight how effective modern day law enforcement requires partnership and collaboration, whether in teams of officers, between forces, in multi-agency operations or through wider public sector involvement. The Awards also recognise that accomplishments arise from a blend of innovative, committed and well-trained personnel, serving, engaging and protecting the public while using technology efficiently and effectively. These awards should inspire the European law enforcement community by providing insights into successful innovation. Europol was mandated by the Justice and Home Affairs ministers from all the EU Member States at the end of 2019 to create an Innovation Lab to support the law enforcement community in innovation. The Lab aims to identify, promote and develop innovative concrete solutions supporting the EU Member States' operational work. These will help investigators and analysts to make the most of the opportunities offered by new technologies to avoid duplication of work, create synergies and pool resources. The activities of the Lab are directly linked to the strategic priorities as laid out in the Europol Strategy 2020+, which states that Europol shall be at the forefront of law enforcement innovation and research.  

Law enforcement conducted seven house searches and seized fake Belgian identity documents, illegal medicines, fake prescriptions and cash. The operation was led by France and relied on international cooperation by Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Europol supported the operation by liaising with the OCLAESP, processing the available data and deploying a mobile office on the spot during the action day in Lyon (Rhône-Alpes region). Fake prescriptions as modus operandi The organised crime group targeted had been supplying the market with illegally acquired drugs since November 2020. By providing fake and stolen doctors’ prescriptions from all over France, the criminal group managed to collect psychotropic drugs from pharmacies in the French Rhone-Alpes region. Law enforcement were alerted by a pharmacist of the suspicion of this illegal activity and started an investigation that culminated in the recent action. Of the 20 people arrested, eight were taken into police custody and five of them eventually incarcerated. Initial interrogations of the leading members of the criminal network revealed that they also regularly travelled to other European countries to obtain the supply of medicines, which in turn were also illegally obtained by a criminal network operating abroad. Apart from the medicines fraudulently gathered in France, the arrested suspects were trading in medicines mainly imported from the Netherlands and Belgium.   Grave public health risk The illegally acquired drugs were sold on the local market, causing a recurrent threat to public health. Illegal trade in either genuine, counterfeited, falsified or misused medicines is a grave public health concern and this has recently seen an increase, especially in the area of antiviral drugs including two oral antivirals currently available to treat CoViD-19.   

The investigation uncovered that the criminal network was led by a Hungarian couple (one male and one female). They were arrested in Berlin based on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Hungary. During the action day, officers interviewed one victim of human trafficking in Berlin and two potential victims in Budapest. The action day led to: 2 house searches in Germany 3 arrests (2 in Germany and one in Hungary); 2 witnesses interviewed; Seizures included one vehicle and electronic equipment. Active since 2017, the criminal network recruited young Hungarian women and exploited them. The suspects recruited the females from vulnerable social and economic backgrounds for prostitution in a certain areas of Berlin. The suspects were offering their victims a 'business deal', which they claimed included accommodation, protection and assistance with official documentation upon arrival in exchange for 50 % of the girls’ income. However, the girls were forced to give their entire income to the criminal network. The suspects transported the victims from Hungary to Germany and housed them in flats rented by the criminal network. Once there, the suspects imposed a specific code of conduct, means of communication and working conditions on the victims, and dictated the pricing and location of the prostitution. The victims were sent to specific streets and areas of Berlin, which were controlled by the suspects.  The criminal network imposed a minimum daily income to be earned by the victims. They had to stay on the streets until they earned between EUR 150 and EUR 300. Criminal associates who wanted to manage their own girls in the streets controlled by the main suspect, had to pay him EUR 150 daily per victim exploited in the area. Generally, the suspects took all of the income generated by the victims, who suffered severe mental and physical abuse when they failed to earn the required daily amount, or when they did not follow the code of conduct imposed by the criminal network. The investigation has identified 25 victims so far. One of them suffered severe abuse and was locked in a room where she was forced into prostitution. In an attempt to escape, she jumped out of the window and her injuries led to nine months of hospital treatment.        Europol coordinated the operational activities, facilitated the exchange of information and provided analytical and financial support. Europol deployed one expert to Berlin and one to Budapest to cross-check operational information in real time and support investigators on the ground with technical expertise.   

The signature took place on the occasion of the visit of Europol’s Executive Director to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to meet with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. Saif Bin Zayed al Nahyan and Emirati law enforcement.  This Agreement marks a milestone in international police cooperation. The permanent presence at Europol of UAE liaison officers will considerably promote operational cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and the law enforcement authorities of the Member States of the European Union, as well as third countries and organisations associated with Europol.  This Agreement follows the signing of an Agreement on Strategic Cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Europol in 2016.  Europol’s Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle, commented: The United Arab Emirates is a key security partner in the fight against the most pressing criminal threats of today, both in the Gulf region and internationally. I welcome this agreement which will mark a new level of cooperation in international policing by connecting Emirati law enforcement with their counterparts in all of Europe’s Member States and partner countries. By doing so, we are sending together a clear signal to criminals. Fostering cooperation internationally The UAE liaison officers will join a network of more than 250 liaison officers from over 50 countries and organisations with a permanent representation at Europol.  This unique approach to international police cooperation has positioned Europol as the place where crucial intelligence emerges with law enforcement from countries across the world working side by side.  Most recently, Europol welcomed liaison officers from Brazil and Japan. An updated list of Europol’s working arrangements with countries from outside the European Union can be found here.   

The action day brought together 85 experts from different EU law enforcement authorities at the Dutch Police Academy in Apeldoorn. They focused on combating criminal networks that use social media, the surface web and the dark web to conduct human trafficking. Compared to other crime areas, such as drug trafficking or trafficking of weapons, it is more challenging to identify the indicators of trafficking in human beings in an online environment. This joint action day gathered criminal intelligence to determine these indicators as part of the fight against criminal networks using the online environment to exploit the most vulnerable people. In particular, the investigators targeted human traffickers attempting to lure Ukrainian refugees.  The internet and human trafficking are interlinked. Many social media platforms, dating apps and private groups online are being ‘hijacked’ by individuals involved in human trafficking for sexual or labour exploitation. These individuals are trying to mislead law enforcement and avoid detection. The joint efforts of law enforcement in the monitoring of platforms which may offer sexual services, recruitment, and the harbouring or transportation of victims increases the intelligence picture. The international cooperation, exchange of knowledge, expertise and technology, served the better mapping out of this criminal landscape and served new investigations. Main figures:  114 online platforms monitored in total, of which 30 were related to vulnerable Ukrainian refugees; 53 online platforms suspected of links to human trafficking checked, of which 10 were related to vulnerable Ukrainian refugees; Five online platforms linked to human trafficking checked, of which four were related to child sexual exploitation on the dark web;  11 suspected human traffickers identified, 5 of whom were linked to trafficking of human beings, and specifically to vulnerable Ukrainian citizens; 45 possible victims identified, 25 of whom were of Ukrainian nationality; 20 platforms with possible links to trafficking of human beings identified for further investigation and monitoring; 80 persons/user names checked, out of which 30 were related to possible exploitation of vulnerable Ukrainian citizens. Although the actions focused mainly on trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation, the officers also looked for leads to identify other forms of exploitation, including labour exploitation. The investigators managed to explore a wide range of websites and other online platforms for trafficking in human beings and other criminal activities. These platforms include social media, dating platforms, advertising and aid platforms, forums and messaging applications. Investigators also checked platforms on the dark web in relation to trafficking in human beings and child sexual exploitation online.   *Participating countries: Austria, Albania, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and Ukraine Hackathon: when a group of experts get together and focus on finding ways to solve, or to investigate, the same problem in a limited amount of time. Europol supported the coordination of the operational activities, facilitated the exchange of information and provided analytical support. On the action day, Europol deployed two experts to the coordination centre to facilitate the information exchange in real time and crosscheck operational information against Europol’s databases. This provided further investigative leads to the participating officers from involved national law enforcement authorities.   

This operation was enabled by the deployment of some 500 law enforcement officers on the ground, including special intervention teams, canine units, helicopters and drones.  This sting follows a complex investigation initiated by the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) who worked on this case together with the Italian Carabinieri (Arma dei Carabinieri) and Financial Corps (Guardia di Finanza), with the support of Europol and Eurojust.  This operation has resulted in: 32 arrests; 40 house searches in Ibiza, Barcelona, Malaga and Tenerife; The dismantlement of an indoor cannabis plantation (600 plants); Seizures includes approximately EUR 300 000 in cash, 18 kilos of amphetamine, 4.5 kilos of cocaine, firearms and ammunition.    The investigation uncovered the existence in the Balearic Islands in Spain of an organised crime group linked to the ‘Ndrangheta syndicate. The criminal gang is believed to have played an active role in cocaine and cannabis trafficking in between Spain and Italy, using vehicles equipped with hidden compartments and speedboats to transport the drugs.  The members of this criminal organisation would routinely use violence, including torture, to further their criminal goals. Some of the arrestees are linked to a number of murders in Italy. The investigation also uncovered the illegal possession of firearms by some members of this gang. The criminal profits were reinvested into real estate in Spain to hide their illegal origin, polluting the legal economy. Europol supported this investigation by providing tailored expertise and extensive analysis support and facilitating the exchange of information through its secure channels. The exploitation of the critical intelligence carried out by Europol was crucial for the case development.  During the live phase of the operation, a Europol mobile office was deployed to Spain to facilitate the real-time exchange of information and crosschecks of the data gathered in the course of the action against Europol’s databases. The case was opened at Eurojust by the Italian authorities in April 2022. The Agency hosted two coordination meetings to facilitate judicial cooperation and provided support for the coordinated investigative efforts, including the organisation of an action day in Spain. This investigation was supported by the EU-funded Project ISF4@ON, an Italian-led initiative to tackle mafia-type organised crime groups active in Europe. Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

Up to EUR 20 000 for a place in private aircraft The migrants, mainly Iraqi and Iranian of Kurdish origin, boarded private aircrafts in Türkiye carrying false diplomatic passports. However, the official destinations of the trips (usually the Caribbean) were never reached. During the stopovers at different European airports, including in Austria, France and Germany, the migrants left the plane, disposed of their false passports and systematically applied for asylum. The suspects charged up to EUR 20 000 per smuggled person. It is believed that, between October and December 2020, at least five smuggling operations took place in five different European countries. In addition, several plans were made to carry out other smuggling operations. In addition to migrant smuggling and forging identity documents, the organised crime group is also suspected of issuing false checks and scamming airlines in an attempt to build its own fleet. The suspects also allegedly defrauded hotels by not paying the invoices.  The action day on 13 September led to: 5 arrests (2 in Belgium and 3 in Italy) 7 house searches (1 in Belgium and 6 in Italy) Seizures of 2 aircraft, EUR 80 000, 1 high-end car, electronic equipment, and equipment to forge ID documents (such as card printers, stamps, holograms and white plastic cards)    EUR 173 000 frozen in Italy Eurojust supported the authorities involved with the setting up and funding of a joint investigation team (JIT) in June 2021. Eurojust also hosted four coordination meetings to facilitate judicial cooperation and provide support for the coordinated investigative efforts. Europol prioritised the case at an early stage, assigning a dedicated analyst and specialist to support the national investigations to identify the members of the criminal network and to dismantle it. Europol facilitated the operational information exchange and provided analytical and financial support. On the action day, Europol activated a Virtual Command Post to facilitate the information exchange in real-time. Europol also deployed three analysts – one to Belgium and two to Italy – to cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases, thus providing further investigative leads to the participating national law enforcement authorities.   Law enforcement authorities involved:  Austria: Criminal Intelligence Service (Bundeskriminalamt), Provincial CID of Tyrol (Landeskriminalamt Tirol) and Schwechat City Command of the Federal Police (Stadtpolizeikommando Schwechat) Belgium: Belgian Federal Police (Federale Politie, Police Fédérale), Aviation Police Wevelgem France: French Border Police (OCRIEST/Police Aux Frontières) Germany: German Federal Police Munich Airport Italy: National Police (Polizia di Stato: Servizio Centrale Operativo, Squadra Mobile di Bari e Roma, Servizio di Polizia Scientifica and Ufficio di Polizia di Frontiera di Bari)  United States: Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Diplomatic Security Service. Judicial authorities involved:  Austria: Public Prosecutor Offices of Korneuburg Belgium: Examining Magistrate Brussels, Federal Prosecutor’s Office France: Examining Magistrate of Tribunal Judiciaire de Créteil Germany: Landshut Public Prosecutor's Office  Italy: Public Prosecutor Offices of Bari and Rome United States: U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia   

Clandestine banking system with large amounts of cash The modus operandi used by the criminal network consisted in moving large amounts of cash via a sophisticated underground banking system. Organised crime groups could make payments, receive funds and even have their proceeds laundered by this internationally structured financial network.  Individuals involved in the network picked up physical cash directly from criminal organisations. These large amounts of cash were transported in vehicles equipped with hidden compartments and fed into a common cash pool, which was dispersed across various international locations. Other criminal organisations could use these funds to finance their criminal activities or to provide cross-border payments.  Hundreds of kilos of drugs seized The illicit financing system was largely based on money generated in the illegal drug trade, with one part of the organisation sending up to 200 kilos of hashish and cannabis a week from Spain to other parts of Europe. On the action day earlier this year, law enforcement seized 98 kilograms of cannabis – with an additional 123 kilograms seized a few days later – contributing to a total of 650 kilograms connected to this case. Furthermore, 51 kilograms of hashish were confiscated during the action. Europol’s role Europol’s European Financial and Economic Centre has been providing operational expertise, as well as analytical and operational support, to the involved authorities since September 2021. This support contributed to the confirmation of links with other investigations and facilitated international cooperation between the involved law enforcement authorities.  This investigation was carried out within the framework of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). More specifically, it falls under the operational action plan “Criminal Finances, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery” which aims to combat and disrupt criminal networks and criminal individuals who are involved in criminal finances and money laundering.  

Belgian customs authorities carried out house searches in warehouses and at a private residence in Belgium, some of which were based on intelligence provided by the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau on suspicious deliveries to addresses in Belgium. Law enforcement officers discovered two full production lines for cigarettes bearing a variety of well-known name brands. The market value of the seized cigarettes amounts to around EUR 73 million in the United Kingdom, the presumed country of distribution for the majority of the products. Additionally, law enforcement were able to secure a massive number of empty packages, filters, cigarette paper, glue, cardboard and packaging film, as well seven new machines intended for a new production and packaging line.  The searches led to the discovery of a variety of clandestine production sites, as well as warehouses for storage of enormous quantities of tobacco products. In some locations, sleeping quarters for workers were uncovered on the premises. Along with confiscating massive amounts of material used for counterfeit cigarette production, authorities seized various vehicles and arrested several persons of Lithuanian, Polish, Ukrainian and Jordanian nationality. Europol’s role Europol supported the operation by providing its secure communication platform and by facilitating international cooperation between Belgium and other Member States. Furthermore, Europol ran cross-checks and provided analytical support as well as operational expertise. Europol also supported the action day by deploying a mobile office on location in Belgium. The investigation was carried out within the framework of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), more specifically the operational action plan OA 2.1 "Illicit production of tobacco precursors", with Belgian Customs as action leader. Enormous amounts of tobacco products seized The action day contributed to an already impressive record of accomplishment for Belgian authorities’ fight against the illegal production of cigarettes. This year alone, five illegal tobacco production sites and 15 storage warehouses have been uncovered and dismantled in the country. Over the same period, more than 274 million cigarettes, 88 tons of cut tobacco, 65 tons of water pipe tobacco and 40 tons of raw tobacco has been confiscated. The total payables on these seized illicit tobacco products - consisting of the excise duty, special excise duty and value added tax - totals more than EUR 139 million. Factors such as its proximity to the French and British borders, rising excise duty rates in neighbouring countries, and short distances to certain black markets, have together led to Belgium becoming a major hub for illegal tobacco production and trade.   

In March 2021, the Hungarian Tax and Customs Administration seized nearly 23 million unsealed cigarettes that arrived by plane from Dubai to the Hungarian airport of Debrecen. Produced in the United Arab Emirates, the tobacco products were concealed in car parts being shipped on cargo planes. Hungarian authorities intercepted one shipment as it was leaving the airport in four trucks with Polish licence plates. It is believed that there were two similar deliveries earlier that year, on 29 January and 26 February 2021. The estimated economic damage to the European Union budget caused by this organised crime group’s tax evasion on the tobacco products amounts to over EUR 8 750 000.  In an action day on 16 August 2022, which was precipitated by significant analytical findings by Europol, one suspect was arrested. Law enforcement officers were able to seize EUR 750 000 in various currencies, seven luxury vehicles and 49 luxury watches from the Hungarian citizen who was arrested. The authorities are looking for three further suspects for whom European and international arrest warrants have been issued. Europol facilitated the information exchange, cross-checked operational information against Europol’s databases and provided additional analytical support to help advance the national law enforcement authorities’ investigations. Eurojust actively facilitated cross-border judicial cooperation between the national authorities involved, including the execution of European investigation orders.  

Europol is celebrating the hard work and dedication of the various law enforcement authorities across the EU, and we are seeking submissions from talented photographers that illustrate the many ways that police forces protect EU citizens on a daily basis. This year, there are THREE categories in the Europol photo competition to illustrate this hard work. Law enforcement officers from across Europe are invited to submit up to FIVE photos.  Whether you are a passionate professional photographer, or an amateur with nothing but a phone camera, we want to see your photography skills in action! Find out more details about each of the categories below.   Making Europe safer We are looking for images of EU law enforcement officers actively working to make Europe safer. These images could include operational activities in the fight against organised crime, e.g. drugs and weapons trafficking, trafficking in human beings, counterfeiting, etc., as well as images of training exercises and manoeuvres. We also accept both abstract and artistic interpretations of the ‘making Europe safer’ concept. On the road  How does your local law enforcement team patrol your area? We are seeking images of different vehicles from law enforcement authorities that are interesting or unusual, including vehicles from both the past and the present. This could include vintage patrol cars, motorcycles, and any other vehicle that officers use to get to a crime scene. Caring for the community Local police work hard to protect citizens in their communities. Community policing is among the most important responsibilities of many law enforcement authorities and we want to shine a light on this crucial work. We are calling on photographers to send images of police officers assisting members of the community, including their work with elderly people and children.  The winner of each category will win a two-night trip for two people to The Hague or Amsterdam in the Netherlands, with a visit to Europol. Closing date: 15 September 2022.  For full details on how to participate, please visit the competition page. Entries will be used in Europol publications, including calendars, social media and other communication products.   

A total of four suspects – two Chileans, one Peruvian and one Argentinean – have been arrested in Spain, aged between 25 and 37.  The investigation began in May 2022 as a result of the cooperation between the Spanish Civil Guard and the French Paris Police Prefecture, facilitated by Europol. The group under investigation, after having carried out several burglaries in France, travelled to Madrid. They then committed a number of burglaries, before moving to Barcelona to try to do the same there. The same gang has been linked to previous robberies in Argentina, Brazil and Germany. Three of them were caught red-handed and arrested on 7 July as they returned from burglaries in the province on Tarragona. The fourth suspect was arrested later on in the month of July. Due to the gravity of the offences the judge imprisoned the OCG. A large quantity of jewellery, watches and computer and electronic material was recovered, believed to come from the robberies under investigation. In addition, tools and material to commit the robberies were seized, as well as the vehicle used to carry out the criminal activities.  European coordination  Europol brought together the national investigators from the Spanish, French and Chilean sides to share expertise on burglaries and establish a joint strategy to dismantle this travelling gang of thieves.  Cooperation with the Chilean Police was central in bringing these perpetrators to justice, as the Chilean investigators helped their European counterparts solve and prevent robberies committed by this highly-mobile gang.  The investigation was carried out with the support from the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT OPC).  Participating law enforcement authorities Spain: Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) France: Paris Police Prefecture (Préfecture de Police de Paris -Brigade de Répression Du Banditisme)  Chile: Investigations Police of Chile (Policia de Investigaciones de Chile -JENACROF) Europol: European Serious Organised Crime Centre   Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safe.  

Have you ever wanted to go behind the scenes on a real police operation? Europol has launched a brand new podcast and we invite you to join us for fascinating discussions on complex, cross-border operations involving dangerous criminals. Contributors from both Europol and law enforcement around the world talk about some of the most high-profile operations that Europol has been involved in and explain the intricacies of modern police work. These discussions will showcase the variety of international operations that Europol is involved in and the ongoing fight against serious and organised crime. The podcast will focus on a number of crime areas, from cybercrime, to organised crime, to financial crime and more. It will delve into the complexities of destructive malwares like REvil and EMOTET, as well as Europol’s work in dismantling the child abuse forum, Boystown. We look at organised crime and speak to police officers from as far apart as San Diego to Stockholm who collaborated on one of Europol’s most successful operations against encrypted communications, Operation Greenlight. We also look at drugs trafficking from South America to Europe and the ways that Europol helps coordinate cross-border activities between multiple countries. We also examine the notorious Vitae Ponzi scheme and the ways that criminals use call centres to swindle innocent people. Listen to the first episode on the Europol website or on Spotify, Apple or Google podcasts. Subscribe to the podcast now and don’t miss out!  

The investigation into this criminal network lasted several years, and involved a number of EU Member States and third party countries from the Western Balkan region. The drug trafficking network was mainly composed of Montenegrin nationals, but also involved citizens from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy and Serbia. Between 2019 and 2020, law enforcement authorities seized more than six tonnes of cocaine in Aruba (Dutch Antilles), Cote d’Ivoire, Portugal and Spain. The investigations following the seizure in Portugal uncovered possible links between this criminal network and the mafia-style organisation ’Ndrangheta. This same seizure led to the identification of 17 new suspects, 13 of whom were Montenegrin nationals. During the course of the investigation, 29 suspects were prosecuted in Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Serbia, Slovenia and Portugal.  On the action day, 27 July 2022, officers across Europe raided 37 locations (1 in Croatia, 2 in Italy, 33 in Montenegro and 1 in Serbia), arrested 12 suspects (1 in Croatia, 1 in Italy, 8 in Montenegro and 2 in Serbia) and seized expensive watches, bank cards, documents, ammunition and weapons, a vehicle and a speedboat and cash. Europol facilitated the exchange of information and provided continuous analytical support to the investigation. Europol also contributed to the overall case coordination among various agencies in the EU and beyond.   Participating law enforcement authorities Italy – National Police (Polizia di Stato) Croatia – National Police (Ravnateljstvo policije, Policijski nacionalni ured za suzbijanje korupcije i organiziranog kriminaliteta) Montenegro – National Police (Uprava policije)  Netherlands – National Police (Politie) Portugal – Judicial Police  (Policia Judiciária)  Serbia – Criminal Investigations Directorate (Uprava kriminalisticke policije) Slovenia – National judicial police (Uprava kriminalisticne policije) Spain – Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, we support the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. We also work with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

These two joint actions – referred to as Operation Wine Cellar and Operation Theatre -  were carried out in November of last year, the details of which can only be released now due to operational reasons. The investigators have since been working on the financial information collected during the various house searches to identify new investigative leads.   The Budapest Metropolitan Police has apprehended almost a hundred individuals after unravelling two complex fraud schemes involving invoice fraud.  The clampdown targeted an organised crime group responsible for defrauding 94 legal entities of an estimated EUR 2.8 million. These companies were mostly state and municipality-owned.   The syndicate used a sophisticated money laundering infrastructure to hamper law enforcement’s ability to trace the illegal gains.  The criminals would impersonate a service company to inform their victims that the service company now had a new bank account to which the payments for the provided services should be sent.  Once the payments were made to the bank accounts controlled by the criminals, the funds would be moved around to conceal their illegal origin.  Europol support  Europol’s European Financial and Economic Crime Centre has been supporting the Hungarian investigators with these two cases since 2020, confirming the links with other European countries and identifying new leads to develop the intelligence picture on the activities carried out by these two groups.  Europol teams, composed of money laundering specialists and financial analysts, were deployed to Hungary on both action days to assist the investigators with the house searches and the forensic analysis of the seized devices.  Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

The seventh edition of Silver Axe, Europol’s annual operation targeting illegal pesticides, identified the new trends emerging on the EU black market for plant protection products. The operational activities of Silver Axe VII focused on ports, airports and other entry points where the import and export of illegal and counterfeit pesticides could be detected. These actions led to ten arrests, the seizure of 1 150 tons of illegal and counterfeit pesticides and the targeting of a factory where pesticides were being counterfeited.  During Silver Axe VII, authorities detected an increase of the trafficking of illegal pesticides in the south of Europe and the Black Sea area. The number of cases of illegal pesticides, sourced in Turkey, has increased sharply during Silver Axe VII. However, China remains the number one source country. There is also an increase in the seizures of smaller shipments (up to 10 litres/kilograms). The trafficking of these smaller consignments has increased over the years. In addition to border checks, authorities have also been monitoring online shops, which provide a physical address for the collection of products purchased online. Although the trafficking of herbicide, insecticide and fungicide containing banned substances remains steady, the operation also revealed that the counterfeiting of commonly used brands for these products is now growing. On the rise: counterfeit products made in the EU  The increase in seizures of production equipment and raw materials shipped to Europe suggests a rise in counterfeiting activities within the EU. Law enforcement agencies in EU Member States are now detecting these counterfeiting operations on EU soil more often. As part of this, they have detected a number of modus operandi. The first is the import of almost finalised products in containers resembling well-known brands. Once imported, they need only to be labelled before going on the black market. The second is the import of illegal ingredients for the production of pesticides. To lower the chances of detection, the chemicals are only used at the final production stage at the locations where the packaging is also being counterfeited. During Operation Silver Axe VII the Bulgarian authorities targeted one such location, in a rare operation targeting a production facility. During the operation, officers seized counterfeit packaging materials and illegal pesticides, which led to the opening of a criminal case.  Another modus operandi is the misuse of the parallel trading system, which eases the approval procedures of pesticides sold within the EU. As part of this system, a plant protection product that is authorised in one Member State (Member State of origin) may, subject to granting a parallel trade permit, be introduced, placed on the market or used in another Member State. Some criminals abuse this system by introducing illegally produced plant protection products to a Member State, fraudulently claiming that they have already been approved in a different Member State and thereby removing the need for further approvals. Catherine De Bolle, Europol’s Executive Director, said: “Despite their low price, unauthorised plant protection products have a very high cost for both the environment and public health, but also the agricultural industry. Fake and illegal pesticides can harm farmers, and their livelihoods, and damage the maintenance of bee colonies. As a result of past Silver Axe operations, law enforcement authorities have been able to seize almost 5 000 tonnes of illegal and counterfeit pesticides. Taking such unregulated and potentially dangerous products off the market contributes to a safer and healthier environment for EU citizens.” Christian Archambeau, EUIPO’s Executive Director, said: “The damage caused by counterfeit products, touching every possible type of goods and sectors, is deeply concerning, and clearly calls for coordinated action, through operations like Silver Axe. Counterfeit and illegal pesticides pose serious risks to the agricultural economy, the environment and our health. In fighting this illicit trade, we are disproving criminals’ perception that it is a profitable activity with light penalties, and ultimately fighting to protect our citizens.” Ville Itälä, OLAF’s Director-General, said: “The smuggling of pesticides poses a threat throughout the food chain, from farmers to consumers, because it allows dangerous products to reach our market and our soils. Ultimately, operations like Silver Axe also lead to a more environmentally friendly Europe. We achieve that by combining OLAF’s and Europol’s expertise and resources – together, we have many years of experience in building enforcement capacity and strengthening operational activities.” Olivier de Matos, Director General CropLife Europe, said: “The presence of counterfeit and illegal pesticides damage Europe’s ability to deliver its sustainable agriculture goals, putting the objectives of Farm to Fork at risk. Silver Axe is an important initiative which we are proud to support. We need to continue to communicate about these products so both farmers and legitimate businesses recognise and reject criminal offerings that jeopardise the sustainable production of food.”  4 921 tonnes - Operation Silver Axe’s total seizures Silver Axe was initially developed to respond in a coordinated way to the dangerous trafficking of illegal pesticides. The efforts of the public and private sector have led to the seizure of a total of 4 921 tonnes of illegal pesticides during the past six Silver Axe operations. Europol coordinated the operation, facilitated the information exchange and provided operational and strategic analytical support.  Participating countries EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain. Third party countries: Brazil, Colombia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Norway and the United States.  EU bodies and international organisations: Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Commission’s DG SANTE, CropLife Europe and CropLife International.  

Six years of public-private partnership Celebrating its sixth anniversary today, No More Ransom provides keys to unlocking encrypted files as well as information on how to avoid getting infected in the first place. Launched by Europol, the Dutch National Police (Politie) and IT security companies, the No More Ransom portal initially offered four tools for unlocking different types of ransomware and was available only in English. Six years later, No More Ransom offers 136 free tools for 165 ransomware variants, including Gandcrab, REvil/Sodinokibi, Maze/Egregor/Sekhmet and more. Over 188 partners from the public and private sector have joined the scheme, regularly providing new decryption tools for the latest strains of malicious software.   To date, the scheme has so far helped over 1.5 million people successfully decrypt their devices without needing to pay the criminals. The portal is available in 37 languages in order to better assist victims of ransomware across the globe. No better cure than prevention The best cure against ransomware remains diligent prevention. You are strongly advised to: Regularly back up data stored on your electronic devices. Watch your clicks – do you know where a link will take you? Do not open attachments in e-mails from unknown senders, even if they look important and credible. Ensure that your security software and operating system are up to date. Use two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your user accounts. Limit the possibility to export large amounts of corporate data to external file exchange portals. If you become a victim, do not pay! Report the crime and check No More Ransom for decryption tools. Join the fight against ransomware Are you a cybersecurity company willing to join forces with law enforcement and industry leaders in the fight to disrupt ransomware? Do you have an innovative solution for ransomware families not covered yet in the portal to help victims recover their files without giving into the demands of the criminals? Then we want to hear from you! Find more information and prevention tips on www.nomoreransom.org 

The suspect, a Belgian national, was arrested on 23 June in Marbella, Spain, for allegedly running this criminal operation. A suspected accomplice of his was also brought in for questioning. Four firearms were seized at their homes.  The arrest in Spain was made possible thanks to a series of raids carried out earlier this year (26 January) in the region of Antwerp, Belgium. On this occasion, a large amount of banking and financial information was collected, the analysis of which led to the identification of the culprit.  During the course of this two-year investigation, officers seized criminal assets worth an estimated EUR 2.3 million. The suspect arrested in Spain is now awaiting extradition to Belgium. The vehicle for money laundering  The crime group is believed to have provided drug trafficking networks with money laundering services aimed at disguising the nature, origin, destination and ownership of ill-gotten funds.  The cash from the drug trade would be first collected in Belgium, before being used in another European country to purchase luxury vehicles with a price tag in excess of EUR 100 000. Through the purchase of such expensive vehicles, the criminals were effectively converting the illicit cash into assets which would serve to disguise the origin of the money. These cars were then exported to other countries where they were first rented out, before being sold off. Criminals will often use expensive assets, including cars, boats and luxury planes and jewellery to disguise illegal funds and later convert them into clean cash. Such luxury purchases give criminals the opportunity to legitimise significant amounts of money in a single transaction. When using cash as a means of payment, the funds are deposited into the mainstream financial system, removing footprints of the transaction and complicating the ability to trace the source of wealth at purchase. European coordination  Europol’s European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC) brought together the national investigators to agree on a joint strategy and prepare for the final phase of the investigation.  Its experts were deployed both to Antwerp and Marbella for the two action days to facilitate the exchange of operational information and assist with the forensic analysis of the seized devices.  This investigation was carried out with the financial support of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

A cross-border operation, coordinated by Europol and involving law enforcement authorities from Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and the UK, has led to the dismantling of an organised crime network smuggling migrants from Belarus into the EU. In addition to the arrests and house searches carried out during the action day, Estonian and Lithuanian law enforcement authorities carried out checks on vehicles travelling on internal roads and crossing external borders. The operational activities were carried out in the framework of Europol’s Operational Task Force Flow, set up to tackle migrant smuggling networks active along the EU-Belarus border.  The action day on 13 July led to: Operational activities, checks and preventive measure in Estonia, Germany, Lithuania and Poland; 11 arrests (10 in Poland and 1 in the UK based on a German warrant); 1 high-value target arrested in the UK based on a German warrant; 28 locations searched (2 in Germany, 4 in Lithuania and 22 in Poland);   11 transfers detected with 11 facilitators and 60 migrants; 7 in Lithuania with 7 facilitators (nationals of Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Syria, Ukraine and Uzbekistan) and 44 migrants, all Iraqi nationals; 4 in Poland with 4 facilitators (nationals of Georgia, Syria and Ukraine) and 16 migrants (2 Afghan, 2 Indian, 8 Iraqi and 4 Syrian nationals); Seizures include electronic equipment, various documents, evidence of money transfers, and cash.   Up to EUR 13 000 to be smuggled from Iraq to the EU via Belarus  The investigation detected 99 incidents of the illegal transportation of migrants and discovered 662 migrants smuggled by the targeted network, part of which was uncovered during the action day on 13 July. The same criminal network had previously taken a hit in January 2022, when Polish authorities arrested 20 suspects and seized more than the equivalent of EUR 500 000 cash in euros and dollars. The criminal group consisted of Syrian and Turkish nationals. They recruited the migrants from Iraq and arranged their transportation from Iraq/Baghdad into the EU.  The members of the criminal network were based in and acting from the countries across the smuggling route. Their tasks were divided hierarchically, with the majority of the individuals acting at different levels not knowing each other personally. The migrants paid between EUR 10 000 and EUR 13 000 for a full smuggling service from their country of origin, via Belarus, to Germany generating an estimated turnover of at least EUR 7 million for the criminal network. These payments were made via the hawala underground financial system. Hawaladars with residence in Berlin (Germany) also executed the payments for the drivers after receiving a proof of completion, such as pictures of migrants after arrival in their final destination.  The criminal network used Turkey as a transit country and logistical hub. Once in Turkey, the migrants legally travelled to Moscow with tourist visas, from where they were then transferred to the Belarusian capital Minsk, or Grodno, a city near the borders with Lithuania and Poland. From there, the migrants were then smuggled to Germany via Poland and Lithuania.  The criminal network used three smuggling routes, each with an EU end destination: From Iraq via Turkey to Belarus, and then towards Poland and Germany; From Iraq via Turkey, then via Russia and Belarus, towards Latvia and Germany, and; From Iraq via Turkey, then via Russia and Belarus towards Lithuania, Poland and Germany. For the final transfer towards the EU, the criminal network recruited drivers, mainly Ukrainian nationals, via web forums and social media platforms. For their services on this last leg of the smuggling route, from Poland to Germany, they charged between EUR 500 and 1 000 per person.  The criminal network often transported the migrants in life-threatening conditions, such as overcrowded vehicles and even closed cars on loading platforms. In October 2021, German authorities found the body of a migrant close to the border. The forensic examination suggested that the smugglers abandoned him in an empty field after suffering bad health conditions, where he then died off a multiple organ failure.  Dedicated Task Force at Europol to support the crisis response In June 2021, Lithuanian law enforcement reported an increase of the illegal migration inflow across the Belarus-Lithuanian border. Authorities in Poland and Latvia reported the same. In response, Lithuania set up a Joint Investigative Cell (JIC) in Vilnius to serve as an operational hub that would facilitate the cooperation between involved national law enforcement authorities.  In addition to this cell, in February 2022, Europol set-up the Operational Taskforce Flow (OTF) Flow, involving Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. This special set-up was created specifically to support national authorities in combating the increased migrant smuggling activities across the EU-Belarus border. Through OTF Flow, Europol supports the coordination of joint operational activities and facilitates the information exchange between law enforcement authorities. The OTF operates from Vilnius, and is composed of representatives from national law enforcement authorities and Europol experts..   During this week’s action day on 13 July 2022, Europol deployed, in addition to the staff already send to the OTF/JIC, three experts to Lithuania and Poland to cross-check in real time operation information against Europol’s databases, perform digital forensics, and support the investigators in the field with new leads. Law enforcement authorities involved:  Estonia – Estonian Police and Border Guard (Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet) Germany – German Federal Police (Bundespolizei)  Lithuania – State Border Guard Service (Valstybės sienos apsaugos tarnyba) and National Police (Lietuvos policija)  Poland – Border Guard (Polska Straż Graniczna) and National Police (Polska Policja) The United Kingdom – National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Extradition Unit

An EU-wide coordinated action week targeting human trafficking for labour exploitation and related offences took place between 15 and 21 June 2022. The action days, supported by Europol, were led by the Netherlands and co-led by France, Italy, Romania and the United Kingdom and involved 29* countries in total as well as the European Labour Authority and the European Commission. A wide range of law enforcement authorities including police, immigration and border guards, labour inspectorates and tax authorities took part in the coordinated operational activities.  These coordinated actions were implemented as part of the European multidisciplinary platform against criminal threats, known as EMPACT. Established to improve synergies between different institutions fighting serious and organised crime, EMPACT has enabled cooperation between law enforcement and regulatory authorities targeting labour exploitation. The action week mobilised almost 18 500 officers, who searched more than 10 467 locations, 32 525 vehicles and more than 86 000 persons to detect different administrative infringements and criminal offences. These checks led to the detection of a significant number of companies linked to infringements of employment law. About 500 individuals who had been working undeclared were identified during the inspections. This means the employers in question did not ensure that their employees had access to healthcare, insurance in case of accidents, or any other social benefits and rights that they were entitled to according to employment law.          The action week led to: 59 arrests; 487 possible victims of different types of exploitation identified;  About 1 100 workers affected by labour infringements; 514 employers linked to labour infringements; 34 forged documents detected; ~80 new investigations initiated; 715 new inspections/administrative investigations. Restaurants, healthcare and the mining sector under scrutiny  This year’s inspections focused on a number of labour-intensive sectors such as mining, home healthcare services, nail bars, cleaning services, restaurants and food delivery services. Vietnamese nationals are especially vulnerable to labour exploitation, predominantly in nail bars. Home healthcare is also a sector that is susceptible to exploitation. This is especially difficult to detect as it happens behind the closed doors of households. Eastern European nationals often fall victim to domestic servitude with reports of cases in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Authorities also focused on detecting the possible exploitation of Ukrainian refugees.    *Participating countries EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. Third party countries: Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Europol coordinated the action days and facilitated the information exchange between the participating countries. Europol provided analytical and operational support on a 24/7 basis and facilitated the real-time exchange of communication between the participating authorities. Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organized crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.

Europol’s flagship TE-SAT 2022 report is based on quantitative data provided to Europol by EU Member States on terrorist attacks, arrests and court decisions issued for terrorist offences. Europol’s partners also provided valuable qualitative information and assessments that enrich the findings of the report.  Europol’s Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle, said: “The findings of the TE-SAT 2022 confirm that terrorism still poses a real and present danger to the EU. While our joint work to disrupt and prevent attacks seems to be having a positive effect, lone actors associated with jihadist and right-wing violent extremism are still a concern for EU Member States and Europol. In a time of geopolitical shifts, the EU needs to continue more than ever its counter-terrorist measures. Europol will continue to work closely with its partners to meet the challenges ahead.” Key findings  15 completed, foiled and failed terrorist attacks were recorded in the EU in 2021. The four completed attacks included three jihadist terrorist attacks and one left-wing terrorist attack. EU law enforcement authorities arrested 388 suspects for terrorism-related offences in 2021. Of these, more than two thirds (260) were carried out following investigations into jihadist terrorism offences in Austria, France and Spain.  Court proceedings concluded in 2021 resulted in 423 convictions for terrorist offences. Lone actors remain the primary perpetrators of terrorist and violent extremist attacks in Europe. However, attack plots involving several actors were also disrupted in 2021. Individuals carrying out attacks alone have been associated mainly with jihadist terrorism and right-wing terrorism and violent extremism.  In 2021, weaponry was used in the completed terrorist attacks that is relatively easy to source and does not require extensive skills for assemblage or use. Weapons used in attacks in the EU in 2021 included bladed weapons, vehicles (in ramming attacks) and improvised incendiary devices.  Terrorist propaganda disseminated online in 2021 has continued to reflect themes related to COVID-19. The increased amount of time spent online due to COVID-19 restrictions, amongst other reasons, constitutes a risk factor in vulnerable individuals’ potential pathway to extremism. Violent anti-COVID-19 and anti-government extremism, which is not affiliated with traditional violent extremist and terrorist activities, emerged in some Member States and non-EU countries. Such forms of violent extremism materialised in open threats, hateful messages spread online and, in some cases, the use of violence. Geopolitical developments in key regions outside of the EU influence terrorist narratives and propaganda spread in Member States.  The current terrorist threat for Member States appears not to have been directly affected by the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan. However, it increased global attention on religiously motivated insurgencies and, thereby, provided jihadists affiliated with both al-Qaeda and the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) terrorist group opportunities to promote their own narratives.  The TE-SAT elaborates in-depth on the following types of terrorism: jihadist terrorism, right-wing terrorism, left-wing and anarchist terrorism, ethno-nationalist and separatist terrorism and other types of terrorism. To learn more, download the report.  

Between 20 to 22 June, a series of coordinated raids were carried out in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Belgium, with international activity coordinated by Europol and Eurojust. A total of nine individuals believed to belong to this gang were arrested, and nine properties searched. Several motor vehicles and cash amounting to several hundred thousand Czech crowns were seized. The parallel investigations all targeted the same criminal group organising the smuggling of illegal migrants from Vietnam at least since March 2021. The migrants would arrive by plane to Europe under a work visa delivered for one specific country. Once in Europe, the victims were smuggled across Europe to reach their final destination, usually France or the United Kingdom.  The suspects allegedly smuggled their victims in their own vehicles, and in some cases used inflatable motorboats to reach the final stage of the journey, endangering the victims’ life. European coordination  Europol prioritised the case from an early stage and assigned dedicated officers to support the national investigations.  Its European Migrant Smuggling Centre organised three operational meetings to bring together the national investigators to establish a joint strategy, provided actionable intelligence and analytical support and facilitated the exchange of operational information needed to prepare for the final phase of the action.  During the coordinated action day, Europol’s EMSC facilitated the extensive exchange of information between all the parties involved and cross-checked the evidence in real time. Two Europol officers were deployed to Belgium to assist with the forensic data extraction. Eurojust provided financial support and assisted the authorities in setting up a joint investigation team. In addition, the Agency organised three coordination meetings and a coordination centre during the action. The following authorities took part in this investigation: Czech Republic: National Organized Crime Agency, District Public Prosecutor´s Office for Prague 3. Germany: Public Prosecutor´s Office Berlin, Joint investigation group of the Berlin State Criminal Police Office and German Federal Police. Hungary: National Bureau of Investigation, Metropolitan Chief Prosecution Office. Belgium: Federaal Parket, Federale Gerechtelijke Politie.

The action day on 5 July led to: 39 arrests (9 in France, 18 in Germany, 6 in the Netherlands and 6 in the UK) Three High Value Targets arrested Over 50 location searches  Seizures include over 1200 lifejackets, about 150 rubber boats, close to 50 engines; about EUR 40 000 in cash, firearms, cars and drugs Criminal network taking half of the market share Actions against this large criminal organisation, often necessitated by the need to safeguard the lives of irregular migrants, have already taken place. The arrests of 15 individuals by French authorities in November 2021 facilitated the identification of members of Iraqi-Kurdish origin within this well-structured criminal network. This criminal group is suspected of smuggling middle-Eastern and East African irregular migrants from France to the UK with the use of small boats. The investigative activities uncovered that the criminal network was active since at least October 2020.  A number of logistical cells operating from Germany and the Netherlands, alongside UK-based hawaladars, served the organisational needs of this criminal structure. The competition for control of the lucrative migrant smuggling business and for launch sites for the boats regularly resulted in acts of serious violence inside the criminal network, including two attempted murders in committed in France and Germany. The migrant smuggling network was highly professional, having set up their own logistical infrastructure with specific branches in charge of sourcing large amounts of nautical equipment from within and outside the EU. French and Belgian investigations focused on the smugglers, while cooperation with UK, Germany and the Netherlands was established to target the supply chain and the financial facilitators.  In May 2022, British authorities arrested a High Value Target on behalf of Belgium. Investigators have since identified more than 70 suspects with different roles in the criminal organisation, including smugglers, recruiters, accommodation providers, and drivers in charge of transporting nautical equipment, as well as the suspects in charge of channelling the illegal money flows.  The suspects charged on average EUR 2 500 to 3 500 per migrant, depending on the nationality, to facilitate their transfer across the English Channel. The criminal network changed tactics regularly to avoid detection, also using larger boats and the cover of the night to smuggle as many migrants as possible across, with no concern for their safety. Leads suggest that at times up to 15 boats were launched almost simultaneously, with half successfully making it across to the UK. The investigators estimate that the network could have smuggled up to 10 000 migrants in the past year and a half, with as much as EUR 15 million in estimated criminal turnover. Sharp increase in migrant smuggling with small boats  The smuggling of migrants via small boats is a highly dangerous modus operandi which gradually increased shortly before the start of the COVID–19 pandemic. In 2021, the use of small boats became the prominent modus operandi of migrant smuggling from the EU to the UK, surpassing smuggling in lorries. By the end of 2021, almost 50 000 irregular migrants attempted to cross the English Channel in small boats, three times more than the year before. In the first 6 months of 2022, over 11 500 irregular migrants reached the UK, generating close to EUR 30 million turnover for the criminal organisations active on that smuggling route. Dedicated Task Force at Europol to connect the dots An Operational Task Force (OTF) involving Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands and the UK, coordinated by Europol, was established. This OTF supports investigations targeting criminal networks smuggling migrants with small boats – an increasing phenomenon putting the life of migrants at great risk. Authorities focused on a number of high-level smugglers, also known as High Value Targets, whose prosecution offers a means to seriously disrupt or even halt the functioning of the criminal network. Europol appointed dedicated experts to identify the criminal connections between several national investigations. In the aftermath of the tragedy unfolding in the English Channel in November 2021, Europol initiated a permanent deployment to the specialised investigation cell (URO/CIC), set up by France and the UK, to specifically target migrant smuggling with the use of small boats.  OTF Dune investigators benefited extensively from the dedicated financial instrument set up by Europol to facilitate such high profile investigations, with over EUR 250 000 awarded to the participating countries to manage various aspects of their investigative work. During the action day, Europol facilitated the deployment of over 20 investigators to several locations in Germany, Netherlands and UK. Moreover, three Europol experts assisted the authorities in Belgium, France and Germany to cross-check in real time operation information against Europol’s databases, perform digital forensics and support the investigators in the field with new leads. Eurojust set up a coordination centre to enable rapid cooperation between the judicial authorities involved in the action day and hosted coordination meetings to facilitate judicial cooperation and the preparation of the joint action day. Law enforcement authorities involved:  Belgium – Belgium Federal Police (Federale Politie/Police Fédérale)France - French Border Police (OCRIEST-BMR Lille) Germany – German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) and German Regional Police (Landespolizei Osnabrück) The Netherlands - Royal Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee) The United Kingdom – National Crime Agency Judicial authorities involved:  France: Court of Lille (Tribunal Judiciare de Lille) Germany: Public Prosecution Office Osnabrück (Staatsanwaltschaft Osnabrück) The Netherlands: National Public Prosecution Office (Landelijk Parket); Public Prosecution Office of Oost-Brabant (Parket Oost-Brabant) Belgium: Prosecution Office of West-Flanders and Investigative Judge in Bruges (Parket Brugge); Federal Prosecutors’ Office (Federaal Parket)

More than 130 arrests and identification of over 130 potential victims The action days resulted in over 130 arrests and around 60 additional suspects being identified, as well as more than 100 new investigations being initiated. In total, over 130 possible victims of human trafficking were identified, more than a dozen of them being confirmed as minors. The checks led to over 220 forged documents being detected. During the action days, law enforcement checked approximately: 13 500 locations 193 020 vehicles 970 440 persons 101 790 documents During the action days, law enforcement also checked the identity of over 11 130 minors, who remain the most vulnerable group within persons being trafficked and exploited. Many fall victim to sexual exploitation, forced begging or different types of forced criminality, including petty crimes and drug trafficking. They also become victims of labour exploitation and domestic slavery. Europol’s role Europol supported the coordination of the operational activities, facilitated the exchange of information, and provided analytical support. On the action days, Europol activated a Virtual Command Post to facilitate the information exchange in real time, while dedicated analysts cross-checked operational information against Europol’s databases. This provided further investigative leads to the participating national law enforcement authorities.  Participating countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.  

The investigation was led by the French OCLAESP under the supervision of the French Public Prosecutor’s Office in Marseille to look into possible doping allegations of a cycling team participating in the Tour de France.   Between 27 and 30 June, a total of 14 locations were searched in 6 countries. Three people were interrogated. The investigation is ongoing and the evidence seized is being forensically examined. The properties of several riders and their staff were searched in Belgium, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Poland and Slovenia. An urgent coordination meeting was hosted by Eurojust on 16 June to facilitate judicial cooperation, including the execution of seven European Investigation Orders in the countries involved, and the preparation of the joint action.Europol deployed a dozen officers across the participating countries to facilitate the extensive exchange of information and provide forensic support for the seized electronic devices.  The following authorities are involved in the investigation: •    France: PPO PSPE (Public Health and Environment Division) of Marseille and OCLAESP (Central Office against Environmental and Public Health Crime)•    Belgium: Federal Prosecutor's Office and the Federal Judicial Police of Brussels•    Denmark: Copenhagen Police•    Spain: Investigative Court num. 8 in Alicante; International Cooperation Section of the Prosecutor's Office in Alicante; Judicial Police Unit of Policía Nacional in Alicante•    Croatia: County State Attorney’s Office in Rijeka•    Italy: PPO Brescia and Carabinieri for the Protection of Public Health (NAS) Units of Brescia, Roma and Ragusa•    Poland: The Circuit Prosecutor’s Office and City Police in Łódź•    Slovenia: District Court and Slovenian PoliceEuropol and the fight against dopingThe illegal production and distribution of doping substances brings significant illicit profit to organised crime groups. They often use these profits to fuel other criminal activities, such as producing and trafficking illegal and substandard medicines and synthetic drugs. Doping substances not only corrupt fair competitions they also endanger the health of athletes as criminals often produce illegal doping substances in underground labs with no hygiene requirements while using dangerous and substandard raw materials. These illicit doping substances poison players in all sports: from track athletes, professional cyclists, skiers and weightlifters to amateur bodybuilders.Several investigations supported by Europol have uncovered the use of doping substances to influence the outcome of professional sports. The Europol-coordinated SHIELD II operation ran last year between April and December 2021 in 26 countries led to 544 arrests and €63 million of fake pharmaceutical and illegal doping substances seized.  

These attacks are estimated to have caused over EUR 4 million worth of damage to the targeted premises, demonstrating that the criminals have no insight into the risk of harm, or even possibility of death, to those who lived nearby or who were near the cash machines at the time. Europol support  Europol’s European Serious Organised Crime Centre supported the investigation from the onset by bringing together the national investigators from Germany and the Netherlands to establish a joint strategy and to organise the intensive exchange of evidence needed to prepare for final phase of the investigation.  A Europol expert was also deployed to Amsterdam to assist the national investigators with the action day.  Life-threatening  Law enforcement is increasing concerned about the increasingly heavier explosives that criminals are using to gain access to the cash machines’ content These explosions are putting at risk the lives of local residents and bystanders: the surrounding buildings can collapse, or fragments of the explosion hit passers-by.  In some cases, the perpetrators also escape the crime scene in powerful motorised vehicles at high speed (250 km/h), causing a serious risk to public safety.  The following authorities took part in this investigation: Germany: Police Directorate of Osnabrück, Public Prosecutor’s Office Osnabrück, Public Prosecutor’s Office Mainz, LKA Rhineland-Palatinate, General Public Prosecutor’s Office Frankfurt, LKA Hesse, Police Department of Mittelhessen, Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt)  The Netherlands: National Police Amsterdam, Public Prosecutor’s Office  Belgium: Federal Judicial Police Eupen  This investigation was carried out with the financial support of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) and the Internal Security Fund SWORD. 

On 28 June 2022, the German Regional Police (Landeskriminalamt) struck against the so-called 'Caliphate State' religious extremist organisation. During the action day, coordinated by the Landeskriminalamt Rhineland-Palatinate, German law enforcement officers from six German States raided 50 locations in a joint operation and arrested three individuals. The arrested individuals are suspected members of 'Caliphate State', which is a banned organisation in Germany. During the house searches, officers seized three firearms, propaganda material, and more than EUR 270 000. Investigators are currently working on identifying international links.  Germany made membership of this organisation illegal in 2001. The prohibition order states that the ideology of the 'Caliphate State' violates the principle of democracy since it demands the primacy of the Sharia law over democratic institutions. At that time, the so-called 'Caliphate State' organisation had about 4 000 members. The members of this well-structured illegal network, which is widely spread across Germany, focus on radicalisation and collection of funds. One of the prominent figures, son of the founder of the organisation, has been arrested in Germany and extradited to Turkey in 2004, where he was jailed until 2016.  Europol facilitated the information exchange and supported the case with operational analysis. During the action day, Europol provided support by deploying an expert to Germany to crosscheck operational information against Europol’s databases and provide links to investigators in the field.  Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, we support the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. We also work with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

The amendments to the Europol Regulation introduce, in particular, changes in the following areas: Support of a criminal investigation: Subject to conditions laid down in the amendments to the Regulation, Europol will be able to process personal data without the Data Subject Categorisation (DSC), for as long as and whenever necessary for the support of a specific ongoing criminal investigation. This is in particular relevant for dealing with large and complex datasets, for which the DSC can be identified only when the relevant information is extracted and analysed. A transitional regime details the conditions for information that has been processed by Europol prior to the amendments to the Europol Regulation.  Research and innovation: Europol will be able to support the EU Member States to use emerging technologies, explore new approaches, and develop common technological solutions - including in the field of artificial intelligence. One of the main novelties introduced is an explicit legal basis to process personal data for the purposes of research and innovation. However, this possibility is accompanied by strict data protection safeguards which will be applicable to such processing.  Cooperation with private parties: Private parties hold an increasing amount of data that may be relevant for criminal investigations. Under the amended legal framework, Europol will be able to receive data directly from those parties. The Amending Regulation also introduces tailored rules regulating cooperation with private parties in the context of online crisis situations and online dissemination of child sexual abuse material. Schengen Information System (SIS): Europol will support the EU Member States in processing data transmitted by third countries or international organisations and may propose that Member States enter information alerts in the SIS. Own-initiative investigations: Europol’s Executive Director may propose opening a national investigation into a specific crime which concerns only one Member State but affects a common interest covered by a Union policy. It will be up to the national authorities to decide whether or not to comply with this request. Fundamental Rights Officer (FRO): The amendments to the Europol Regulation introduce an independent FRO, in addition to the independent Data Protection Officer (DPO) which already exists at Europol. European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS): Since 1 May 2017, the EDPS has held the task of supervising the personal data processing by Europol. The amendments to the Europol Regulation will further strengthen the oversight functions of the EDPS.  Europol is the nerve centre of the EU's internal security architecture. With its platforms, databases, and analytical services, Europol is connecting law enforcement authorities across the EU and beyond to tackle serious and organised crime and terrorism. Recent intelligence analyses into the organised crime landscape have shown that crime is more fluid and flexible than previously thought, and the use of violence is increasing, as is the use of corruption and the abuse of legal business structures.  Europol's Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle, said: It is the role of law enforcement to implement and protect the rule of law. I am concerned by the impact of serious and organised crime on the daily lives of Europeans, our economy, and the resilience of our state institutions. I therefore welcome the amended Regulation as it will considerably improve the efficiency of Europol's support to the law enforcement authorities of the European Union in fighting serious and organised crime and terrorism. The Chair of Europol’s Management Board, Jérôme Bonet, said: This Regulation paves the way for new perspectives for Europol through enhanced support to national law enforcement authorities. Quality relationships with private parties, innovative solutions, new operational partnerships, an increased ability to process large and complex datasets and improved public confidence in the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation are the key achievements that will be game-changers in the fight against serious and organised crime and terrorism. The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said: Because fighting organised crime and terrorism depends on police cooperation at European level, Europol is irreplaceable in supporting the law enforcement authorities in their investigations. With its stronger mandate, Europol will be able to step up its expertise and operational capabilities to become the EU information hub on criminal activities and a cornerstone of EU’s internal security architecture. The European’s Parliament Rapporteur on the Europol Regulation, MEP Javier Zarzalejos, said: The European Parliament had repeatedly asked for changes in Europol’s Regulation so the Agency was able to adapt to the evolving and increasingly complex security threats. The entry into force of the new Regulation marks a substantial leap forward in the capabilities of Europol, in its ability to support Member States, in its governance framework and in the enhanced system of safeguards the co-legislators put in place. The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, represented by Frédéric Veaux, General Director of the French National Police, said: We can be proud of the progress made, all of which has a clear operational purpose and strengthens confidence in Europol. I want to convey my heartfelt thanks for this achievement, which will allow us to offer better protection to EU citizens against terrorist attacks and serious and organised crime. Timeline In accordance with Article 68 of the Europol Regulation of 2017, the European Commission shall ensure that every five years an evaluation assessing in particular the impact, effectiveness and efficiency of Europol and of its working practices is carried out. In December 2020, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation amending the Europol Regulation, with a view to reinforcing the mandate of Europol. The proposed Regulation aimed at rendering Europol's cooperation with private parties, providing an enhanced legal basis for processing large and complex datasets, including personal data of data subjects unrelated to a crime, and reinforcing Europol's role in research and innovation for law enforcement.  In February 2022, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the proposal for a regulation.  The European Parliament agreed to the amendments to the Europol Regulation on 4 May 2022. On 24 May 2022, the Council of the European Union adopted the Regulation amending the Europol Regulation.  Today, on 28 June 2022, the amended Europol Regulation enters into force and becomes applicable.   With a stronger mandate of Europol comes stronger oversight In accordance with Article 88 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Europol's activities are subject to scrutiny. Therefore, any regulatory amendments will be subject to robust safeguards regarding protecting fundamental rights, including the right to privacy. For this purpose, the amendments to the Europol Regulation introduce an independent Fundamental Rights Officer (FRO), in addition to the independent Data Protection Officer (DPO) which already exists at Europol. In addition, the amended Regulation will further strengthen the European Data Protection Supervisor's (EDPS) oversight function. Since 1 May 2017, the EDPS has held the task of supervising the personal data processing by Europol as of 1 May 2017.  The amendment to the Europol Regulation also strengthens the Joint Parliamentary Security Group, which politically monitors Europol's activities in fulfilling its mission.  

Yet the tide is turning: crimes against the environment are increasingly drawing attention as climate change has become crucial in the agenda of policy makers.   Europol’s new threat assessment Environmental Crime in the Age of Climate Change offers the most comprehensive intelligence picture to date on this criminal phenomenon in the EU.   For the purpose of this threat assessment, in-depth analysis was performed on strategic and operational intelligence contributed to Europol. This intelligence concerns hundreds of investigations supported by Europol’s Analysis Project EnviCrime, from its establishment in 2017 until the present.  Europol’s Executive Director, Catherine de Bolle, said: Law enforcement investigations across the EU show that there is an organised crime component behind most environmental crime schemes, which are often fronted by legal business ventures. At Europol, we’ve also seen a sharp increase in the number of cross-border cases. For this reason, a coordinated investigative approach is necessary, and Europol is well-positioned to support national authorities in tackling this growing challenge. What is environmental crime?  Environmental crime covers a range of activities that breach environmental legislation and cause significant harm or risk to the environment, human health, or both. These offences can include, but are not limited to the: improper collection, transport, recovery or disposal of waste; illegal operation of a plant in which a dangerous activity is carried out or in which dangerous substances or preparations are stored; killing, destruction, possession or trade of protected wild animal or plant species; production, importation, exportation, marketing or use of ozone-depleting substances. Key findings  The majority of environmental crime actors are opportunistic legal business owners/operators who decide to increase their chances of profit by establishing a criminal venture. These networks are mainly composed of low-level associates who operate under the command of few leaders, and are located far from the criminal activities. For the laundering of the illicit proceeds, criminals mainly use the same legal businesses in which they operate (i.e. waste management businesses, retail stores, fishing companies, etc.). Document fraud, abuse of discrepancies in legislation and widespread corruption are the cornerstones of the environmental crime infrastructure. EU criminal networks are increasingly targeting central and eastern Europe to traffic illicit waste produced in Western Europe. Outside of the EU, European traffickers mainly target South-East Asia as a destination for illicit plastic waste and end-of life vessels, and Africa for waste of electric and electronic equipment.  The EU functions as a hub for global wildlife trafficking. It is the main destination for trafficked wildlife but it is also a point of origin for endemic wildlife trafficked to other continents. The waste related to the production of synthetic drugs and of synthetic drug precursors is one of the principal sources of environmental damage linked to organised crime in the EU. EU fraudsters increasingly offer attractive investments on projects related to the preservation of the environment (green investments), persuading victims to invest in ‘sustainable funds’. Criminal networks also exploit energy certificate systems and emission trading schemes and this fraudulent activity is set to increase. One of the main challenges for law enforcement remains the identification of the criminal networks behind environmental offences. A large part of the environmental crime activities are carried out by legal businesses, making these offences less visible. The businesses are often rapidly opened and dissolved and commercial routes frequently change. This indicates the adaptability of the criminal networks and their tendency to use innovative schemes to conceal their operations Europol’s report goes into depth on the main typologies of environmental crimes investigated in the EU, namely waste and pollution crimes, wildlife trafficking, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, forestry crimes and the illegal pet trade. A special focus is paid to climate change, which functions as a push and pull factor for organised crime. The increasing scarcity of natural resources will likely trigger organised crime interests in terms of profit over their future allocation.  

The French Border Police (Police National/Police aux frontières), the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), the Portuguese Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária) and the Brazilian Federal Police (Polícia Federal), supported by Europol and Eurojust, dismantled a criminal network involved in human trafficking for sexual exploitation. The investigation resulted in simultaneous law enforcement actions in France, Portugal and Spain. The actions of 20-23 June led to: 14 location searches (7 in France, 4 in Portugal and 3 in Spain) 10 arrests (9 Brazilian and 1 Spanish nationals) 8 victims interviewed in France (7 Brazilian and 1 Colombian) Seizures include vehicles, electronic equipment, hard drives, more than 40 mobile phones, sim cards, documents, payment cards and about EUR 20 000 in cash.   The French Border Police initiated the investigation in March 2021, although investigators suspect that the network was already active for some time before this. The members of the criminal network, predominantly of Brazilian nationality, mainly exploited Brazilian nationals residing illegally in France, Spain and Portugal. The criminal network is suspected to have exploited more than 100 victims, advertising them on specialised websites and managing their online accounts. The investigators identified that the 13 main suspects were located in Brazil, Portugal and Spain. Two suspects based in France formed a branch, while exploiting the same victims controlled by the main criminal group. They rented apartments and hotel rooms by the week, which were used for the sexual exploitation activities. Investigators identified close to 60 such locations in France. It is estimated that the criminal network earned about EUR 120 000 per month. The suspects used a complex financial scheme to channel the illegal profits from France via Belgian, Spanish and Portuguese banks to Brazil, where the criminal assets could be laundered more easily. Europol facilitated the exchange of information and provided analytical support. Europol deployed three experts (one in Portugal and two in Spain) to cross-check operational information in real time and support investigators on the ground.   Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

A joint operation by European law enforcement entities has dealt yet another major blow to organised crime groups involved in global glass eel trafficking. Operation Lake VI ran from November 2021 to June 2022, with Europol, EFCA, OLAF, and the EU Commission’s DG SANTE coordinating law enforcement authorities from 24 countries* across Europe and around the globe. In the operation’s current season, 27 701 inspections were carried out all over Europe, which led to the arrest of 49 individuals and the seizure of 1 255 kilograms of glass eels worth about EUR 1.9 million in total.Operation Lake targets the trafficking of the protected European glass eel, one of the most devastating crimes against wildlife worldwide. While the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) population has decreased by 90 % in recent years, persistent law enforcement activities against eel trafficking could be partly responsible for preventing the species from being wiped out entirely.The trafficking of glass eels is one of the most substantial and lucrative illegal trades of protected species worldwide, with illegal profits estimated to be up to EUR 3 billion in peak years. Successful law enforcement efforts in combating this threat to European wildlife have made a big contribution to the significant decrease in illegal activity: estimates show that incidents involving the trafficking of eels have fallen by 50 % since 2016, the year after Operation Lake was launched. Since then, more than 500 individuals have been arrested and 18 tonnes of glass eels have been prevented from being smuggled and returned to their natural habitats. Clandestine transport on commercial flightsThe recent relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions allowed for the return of the practice of smuggling glass eels out of EU borders in passengers’ baggage. This had been the main approach to illegally exporting the young eels out of Europe before the pandemic and had shifted to concealing glass eels in shipments with other commodities during the period of travel restrictions. Organised crime groups rely on human mules with suitcases using a sophisticated method to keep the glass eels alive for up to 48 hours. Several criminal networks are responsible for trafficking these fish from Europe to Asia. Within these criminal networks, EU nationals are mainly responsible for the illegal fishing while nationals from the destination countries in Asia arrange logistics and transportation. In certain cases, glass eels are bought from poachers; in others, legally fished glass eels are deviated to illegal markets using cargo declared to customs authorities as other commodities and camouflaged to trick the scanners.Once the eels arrive in Asia, they are grown in fish farms and then distributed to different markets around the globe. The trade in glass eels, regarded as a delicacy in many Asian countries, is one of the most impactful forms of wildlife trafficking worldwide. It is suspected that around 100 tonnes of glass eels may be smuggled annually from the countries of the European Union, with prices reaching staggering numbers of up to several thousand euros per kilo. Europol’s roleEuropol coordinated the operational activities, facilitated the information exchange and provided analytical support to national law enforcement authorities. During the actions days, Europol deployed experts to Spain, France, Portugal and the Netherlands to cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases in real time and provide leads to investigators in the field.Operation Lake targets the trafficking of endangered species in the European Union and aims to dismantle violent organised crime groups involved in associated illegal activities, such as environmental crime, smuggling, money laundering, tax evasion and document counterfeiting.*Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United StatesHeadquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. We also work with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer. 

On 23 May 2022, an EMPACT coordinated online joint action day targeted criminal networks grooming Ukrainian refugees for sexual and labour exploitation via websites and social media platforms. Law enforcement authorities from 14 EU Member States* took part in this hackathon**, coordinated by the Netherlands. The investigators monitored different online platforms to detect criminal networks attempting to recruit vulnerable Ukrainian refugees.  The online investigations focused on the monitoring of posts offering help to refugees for transportation, accommodation and work. Dating sites and recruitment websites were monitored, as well as platforms offering sexual services. The countries bordering Ukraine focused on recruitment, transportation and accommodation of refugees, while others focused on platforms offering housing and jobs to refugees. During the action day, investigators identified suspicious advertisements targeting Ukrainian refugees, looked into tips received from citizens, reviewed indicators of potential trafficking of human beings for sexual and labour exploitation and updated their situational awareness on existing online platforms linked to trafficking activities. Main figures: 125 online platforms monitored in total; 42 online platforms suspected for links to human trafficking checked; 6 online platforms linked to human trafficking checked; 9 suspected human traffickers identified; 9 possible victims identified; 15 new investigations initiated; 93 officers participated; 351 persons/user names checked.   The monitoring activities led to the identification of new trends, and gathered insights into the threat of sexual and labour exploitation of Ukrainian refugees. Suspicious activities were detected in a wide range of platforms, including in the Russian language. Different platforms were prioritised depending on the specific social media use per country.   Many online marketplaces and websites appear to be taking significant steps to combat the misuse of their platforms for trafficking Ukrainian refugees. However, law enforcement officers found a significant number of suspicious job offers targeting Ukrainian women, some of which described as ‘photo shoots’. Investigators identified attempts to lure victims through offers of a ‘bright future’, which tricked them into sexual exploitation, or accommodation offers specifically targeted at Ukrainian refugees. * Participating countries: Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom. ** Hackathon: when a group of experts get together, in this case online, and work jointly focusing to find ways to solve, or to investigate the same defined problem in a limited amount of time. Europol supported the coordination of the operational activities, facilitated the exchange of information and provided analytical support. On the action day, Europol activated a virtual command to facilitate the information exchange in real time, while a dedicated analyst cross-checked operational information against Europol’s databases. This provided further investigative leads to the participating officers from involved national law enforcement authorities.   

The action day on 21 June 2022 led to: 9 arrests in the Netherlands 24 house searches in the Netherlands Seizures including firearms, ammunition, jewellery, electronic devices, cash and cryptocurrency The criminal group contacted victims by email, text message and through mobile messaging applications. These messages were sent by the members of the gang and contained a phishing link leading to a bogus banking website. Thinking they were viewing their own bank accounts through this website, the victims were duped into providing their banking credentials to the suspects. The investigative leads suggest that the criminal network managed to steal several million euros from their victims with this fraudulent activity. They used money mules to transfer these funds from the victim's accounts and to cash out the fraudulently obtained money. Members of the group have also been connected with cases of drugs trafficking and possible firearms trafficking. Europol facilitated the information exchange, the operational coordination and provided analytical support for investigation. During the operation, Europol deployed three experts to the Netherlands to provide real-time analytical support to investigators on the ground, forensics and technical expertise.  Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.

An investigation by the Slovak National Crime Agency (Národná kriminálna agentúra/NAKA), the Slovak Military Intelligence (Vojenské spravodajstvo), the Slovak Police (Príslušníci / PZ SR), supported by the Czech National Organized Crime Agency (Národní centrála proti organizovanému zločinu/NCOZ), the US FBI, Europol and Eurojust, led to the arrest of a dangerous right-wing extremist. The individual, known in the international far-right cyberspace, is suspected of spreading extremist hate speech and terrorist activities. Linked to groups and individuals spreading neo-Nazi, far-right and white supremacist extremist propaganda, he is part of the so-called Siege extremist movement. This online extremist community is connected online, though simultaneously grounded in ‘offline action’. The followers of the Siege movement share a philosophical and political orientation, as well as a spiritual outlook dominated by hatred and anchored in fascist ideology. The suspect allegedly published instructions and diagrams for manufacturing improvised cold weapons, home-produced automatic firearms, explosives and mines, and instructions for sabotage attacks. The instructions include the domestic production of automatic firearms manufactured in combination with 3D-printable parts and home-made metal parts. The suspect is currently under custody, awaiting further proceedings. During the raids on 11 May in Slovakia and 23 May in Czechia, law enforcement authorities uncovered a highly sophisticated 3D printer and electronic devices, which are currently under expert examination. Strong inter-agency cooperation  The Slovak National Crime Agency and the Slovak Military Intelligence Service, both Europol’s partner authorities with competencies to investigate crimes related to right-wing terrorism and violent extremism, cooperated in a unique way to develop the investigation. The Military Intelligence Service detected the suspect through its specialised activities and instigated an intense and successful judicial investigation led by the NAKA. The Czech National Organized Crime Agency strongly supported Slovak colleagues with the operational investigation and evidence gathering.        Europol facilitated the information exchange and provided operational analysis. An Operational Task Force was also established to coordinate the operational activities. Europol’s experts from different units supported the investigations with operational intelligence analysis. On the Action Days, Europol provided support by deploying two experts to Slovakia to cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases and provide links to investigators in the field. Europol also provided technical support for the analysis of the seized electronic devices. Eurojust set up a joint investigation team between Czechia and Slovakia to coordinate the judicial actions.  Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. We also work with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.

A total of 61 individuals were arrested for their involvement in this criminal operation, including five officers from the Civil Guard, one from the National Police and one from customs, who were identified thanks to the collaboration with Europol and Eurojust.  These arrests follow an 18-month long investigation into two criminal gangs, known as ‘Clan de Tanger’ and ‘Clan del Sur’, who are believed to have smuggled over 16 tonnes of cocaine and 150 tonnes of hashish via the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain for further distribution across Europe.  The drugs were hidden among shipments of tomatoes, watermelons and melons. The criminal group dismantled is considered to be the most active network operating around the Port of Algeciras.   The corrupt law enforcement and customs officers were paid by the criminal organisation to make sure that the drugs were not intercepted as they were smuggled in the Spanish port of Algeciras. In the frame of the investigation, the Spanish authorities conducted 34  raids which led to: The arrest of 61 individuals, including 7 under European Arrest Warrants issued by other countries; The seizure of 26 properties valued at over EUR 3 million; The seizure of 17 vehicles valued at over EUR 400 000; The seizure in cash of over EUR 1 million; The seizure of over 83 tonnes of hashish and 9 tonnes of cocaine.  Europol’s European Financial and Economic Crime Centre supported the investigation by providing actionable intelligence and analytical support. On 11 May 2022, two Europol teams were deployed to Spain on the action day to facilitate the extensive exchange of information and provide forensic support for the seized electronic devices.  Cases such as this one involving law enforcement and customs officers show how much corruption has infiltrated society. In its 2021 Serious Organised Crime Threat Assessment, Europol highlighted that over 60 % of criminal groups in the EU engage in corruption, making it a key threat to be addressed in the fight against serious organised crime.  Europol’s European Financial and Economic Crime Centre has set up a dedicated team of experts – known as Analysis Project Corruption - to put a stop to it.   

The Hellenic Police/Aliens Division of Attica (Ελληνική Αστυνομία), supported by Europol, dismantled a criminal network involved in the production and dissemination of counterfeit documents. The criminal group disseminated forged IDs to other groups involved in migrant smuggling.  The action day on 1 and 2 June led to: 8 suspects arrested (3 South Sudanese, 1 Eritrean, 1 Iraqi, 1 Nigerian, 2 Ivorian) Seizures of 362 forged documents (153 passports, 156 ID cards, 42 residence permits, 11 asylum documents), 118 passport covers, printers and various relevant materials, electronic equipment and EUR 3 995 in cash From Egypt to the EU with fake Schengen visas The investigation, initiated in March 2021, targeted a criminal network involved in document fraud and migrant smuggling and identified 14 suspected members of the group, mainly nationals of African countries. The members of this very well organised criminal group had clearly defined roles and tasks: forgers, smugglers, intermediaries or associates. The investigation into their activities uncovered that the gang had established a print shop in Athens for the forgery of travel documents supplying the black market for migrant smuggling services. The criminal group sold fake documents to other criminal networks, or used them to smuggle migrants from Egypt towards Greece and on to other EU destinations.  The investigation identified two smuggling routes: from Egypt to Greece with the use of falsified Schengen visas on African passports, and from Egypt through countries in the Western Balkans towards the EU. To date, the investigators have identified 195 criminal cases, more than 565 falsified documents and 66 migrants being smuggled with the use of this network’s illegal supplies. The illegal profits are estimated to amount to more than half a million euros at the very least.  Europol facilitated the exchange of information and provided analytical support. On the Action Day, Europol deployed an expert to Greece to cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases in real time, to provide leads to investigators in the field. The operation was carried out under the umbrella of the Greek National Operational Plan signed by Europol and the Hellenic Police in June 2016. The purpose of the plan is to disrupt organised criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling and to reinforce secondary security controls in migration hotspots. Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.  

An Operational Task Force (OTF), led by the German Federal Police and coordinated by Europol targeted some of the most dangerous migrant smugglers across the EU. The dedicated OTF Pathfinder involved law enforcement authorities from Austria, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and the Netherlands, and led to the opening of 39 new investigations. The latest Action Day on 1 June led to the arrests of two High Value Targets, 12 house searches and seizure of more than EUR 80 000 in Germany and France. The investigations by the Operation Task Force led so far to: 8 High Value Targets arrested and 3 placed under European Arrest Warrant (2 in Austria, 7 in Germany, 1 in Hungary and 1 in Romania) 127 arrests of facilitators (63 in Austria, 19 in Germany, 15 in Hungary, 25 in Romania, 4 in the Netherlands and 1 in Serbia) 916 smuggling incidents detected (600 in Austria, 262 in Germany, 26 in Hungary, 22 in Romania and 6 in the Netherlands) 151 house searches (37 in Austria, 70 in Germany, 17 in Hungary, 25 in Romania and 2 in the Netherlands) Seizures of different assets with a total value of approx. EUR 900 000 Some of the most dangerous smugglers in the EU targeted by Europol’s OTF Pathfinder The OTF Pathfinder, set up at Europol in August 2021 and initiated by Germany, targeted some of the most dangerous migrant smugglers active across the EU. These Europol High Value Targets, mainly Syrian nationals, had global connections in source, transit and destination countries. Europol checked its databases and discovered that these suspects are already linked to 150 investigations. Since the launch of the OTF Pathfinder, national law enforcement authorities have initiated 39 new investigations connected to these 14 individuals. One of these connected investigations led to the arrest of one of the High Value Targets by the Italian Financial Corps, supported by the Albanian Police and the Hellenic Police. Another one resulted in 18 suspects arrested in Romania. The suspects were charging between EUR 4 000 and EUR 10 000, despite smuggling and accommodating migrants in extremely poor and often life-threatening conditions.  The investigative leads revealed that the targets facilitated the smuggling of at least 10 000 migrants, who are mainly of Afghan, Pakistani and Syrian origin, to the EU. Europol facilitated the information exchange and produced a large number of intelligence analysis products, which support the national authorities in connecting these large-scale cross-border criminal activities, identifying perpetrators and detecting ongoing smuggling activities.   Highly organised and dangerously advertised smuggling services The investigations uncovered that these suspects were running a large-scale smuggling business, making use of the same logistics, accommodations and travel arrangements. They used cargo bays of lorries, closed vans and personal cars to smuggle migrants from Turkey through the Western Balkans region, Romania and Hungary towards Austria, Germany and the Netherlands. The payments were mainly made via the so-called hawala underground financial system, while at least one of the 14 targets acted as a hawaladar. The suspects used social media platforms to advertise their illegal business and to convince the migrants’ relatives that the smuggling was safe. Facilitators typically need to build up trust among migrant communities in order to recruit as many migrants as possible. The facilitators in this case used short videos to advertise their services and sell their supposedly safe smuggling services. However, some videos show the facilitators using firearms while escorting migrants through the Hungarian border fence. Further to this, the investigations uncovered that many of the migrants were transported in life-threatening conditions, concealed in vans and private cars. In December 2021, Europol organised the first Referral Action Day to remove illicit advertisements of migrant smugglers’ activities.  Law enforcement authorities involved in OTF Pathfinder  Austria – Central Intelligence Service (Bundeskriminalamt) Germany - Federal Police (Bundespolizei)  Hungary - National Bureau of Investigation (Nemzeti Nomozó Iroda) The Netherlands - Royal Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee) Romania - National Police (Poliția Română) Serbia - Criminal Investigations Directorate (Uprava Kriminalisticke Policije)    Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.