5 arrested after seizure of over 7 million cigarettes destined to the UK

Four of these arrests were carried out on 16 October in the Slovenian municipality of Celje. The arrested individuals are aged between 25 and 51 years old. Two vehicles worth in excess of €100 000 were also seized at the home of one of the suspects. One of the criminal leaders was also arrested in Lithuania earlier in June. 

Two underground doping labs dismantled in France

The French Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie nationale/OCLAESP) and the French Customs (Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects), supported by the Financial Division of the Hellenic Police (Διεύθυνση Οικονομικής Αστυνομίας) and Europol, took down a criminal network involved in the production and trafficking of doping substances and counterfeit medicines. 

Web-enabled sexual exploitation gang taken down by French Police

The French Judicial Police within the National Police (Police judiciaire / Police nationale) and the Colombian Police, supported by Europol, dismantled an organised criminal group involved in human trafficking for sexual exploitation and money laundering. 

Spain dismantle a terrorist organisation recruiting and indoctrinating women

On 16 October the General Commissariat of Information of the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional - CGI) arrested two individuals for their alleged link to a terrorist organisation and on suspicion of recruiting and indoctrinating for the purpose of jihadist terrorism. During an action day supported by Europol, Spanish police raided the homes of the suspects in the cities of Melilla and Mogán in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Law enforcement seized multiple mobile and electronic devices.

The challenges of countering human trafficking in the digital era

Modern communication technologies – namely the internet, social media, and mobile applications – have significantly impacted how organised crime groups involved in international trafficking in human beings operate. Technology has broadened criminals’ ability to traffic human beings for different types of exploitation, including sexual and labour exploitation, the removal of organs, illegal adoption of children and forced marriages.

Cocaine cartel shipping from South America busted in Spain and the Netherlands

Europol supported a cross-border investigation, led by the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), involving the Dutch Police (Politie) and US Homeland Security Investigations and Border and Protection that resulted in dismantling an organised crime group trafficking cocaine from South America to Europe. 

'Lover boys' cashing in on girlfriends arrested in France

The French Judicial Police within the French National Police (Police judiciaire, Police nationale) and the Romanian National Police (Poliția Română) supported by Europol and Eurojust, brought down an organised criminal group involved in human trafficking for sexual exploitation. 

20 arrests in QQAAZZ multi-million money laundering case

An unprecedented international law enforcement operation involving 16 countries has resulted in the arrest of 20 individuals suspected of belonging to the QQAAZZ criminal network which attempted to launder tens of millions of euros on behalf of the world’s foremost cybercriminals. 

Europol turns electronic evidence gathering into a game

As from today, Europol will be training law enforcement officers from Europe and beyond in the complex field of online investigations by using a game created specifically for the task.

EU IRU Transparency report 2019

The EU Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU), which is part of Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC), started its operations in the wake of the series of terrorist attacks that shook Europe in 2015. Its mandate includes referring terrorist and violent extremist content to online service providers and providing support to Member States and third parties in the context of internet investigations.

Smoked out: one of the largest illegal cigarette factories dismantled in the Netherlands

On 7 October, the investigation service of the Dutch tax authorities, FIOD (Fiscale Inlichtingen en OpsporingsDienst), raided an illegal tobacco factory in  West-Betuwe, south of Utrecht. It is one of the largest illegal cigarette factories uncovered in the Netherlands. The factory was in full operation when law enforcement entered the premises. Thirteen suspects were arrested comprising mostly of nationals from Eastern Europe. Investigators seized 3.6 million cigarettes and 32 000 kilos of tobacco along with packaging material, cigarette paper, filters and glue.

France nabs the leaders of a document fraud network active in the EU

On 28 September, French law enforcement authorities arrested nine suspects involved in document fraud and the facilitation of illegal immigration. Supported by Europol, this operation is the result of a cross-border cooperation between law enforcement authorities in France, Germany, Greece and Switzerland. Two leaders of the criminal gang, both Algerian nationals, are among the suspects arrested in France. The criminal network was active in multiple EU countries

Targeted: propaganda material disseminated in the languages of the Western Balkan countries

A referral action day targeting online jihadist propaganda took place on 6 October 2020. The European Union Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) at Europol organised the operational activities in cooperation with Croatia. Specialised units from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia participated in the action day.

INTERPOL-Europol 8th Cybercrime Conference: enhancing partnerships against cybercrime

Stepping up public sector partnerships in the face of increasingly pervasive cybercrime threats was the theme of the 8th INTERPOL-Europol Cybercrime Conference. 

IoT Cybersecurity: Webinar Series to Tackle Security Challenges of IoT

Tomorrow, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) and the Computer Emergency Response Team for the EU Institutions, Bodies and Agencies (CERT-EU) will launch the 4th annual IoT Security Conference series to raise awareness on the security challenges facing the In

Officers identify 715 potential victims of labour exploitation in two pan-European joint action days

Between 14 and 20 September 2020, Europol supported two Europe-wide joint action days against human trafficking for labour exploitation. The operation, also supported by Frontex, involved a wide range of law enforcement authorities including police, immigration and border guards, labour inspectorates, tax authorities and other respective national ministries.

Arrest of an alleged member of the so-called Islamic State by Spanish Guardia Civil

Europol collaborated with the Spanish Guardia Civil in arresting an Algerian national on 30 September suspected of allegedly supporting the so-called Islamic State.

COVID-19 sparks upward trend in cybercrime

So much has changed since Europol published last year’s Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA). The global COVID-19 pandemic that hit every corner of the world forced us to reimagine our societies and reinvent the way we work and live. During the lockdown, we turned to the internet for a sense of normality: shopping, working and learning online at a scale never seen before.  It is in this new normal that Europol publishes its 7th annual IOCTA. The IOCTA seeks to map the cybercrime threat landscape and understand how law enforcement responds to it.

Violent trafficking network smuggling migrants and exploiting minors taken down in France and Belgium

This week a Franco-Belgian investigation supported by Europol uncovered a large criminal network involved in migrant smuggling, trafficking of human beings including minors, forced begging, social benefit fraud and document forgery. Active for several years, the organised crime network illegal profits are estimated at €5 million. 

12 arrested for smuggling migrants in small boats across the English Channel

A major operation involving law enforcement authorities from Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, supported by Europol and Eurojust, led to the dismantling of a large network of criminals smuggling migrants in life-threatening conditions through the English Channel. 

166 arrested in international crackdown against crime in Southeast Europe

A total of 34 countries teamed up last week to combat organised and serious international crime originating from Southeast Europe as part of joint action days (JAD). The four-day operation supported by Europol was aimed at tackling the facilitation of illegal immigration and the trafficking of firearms and drugs, which are key priorities of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). 

Hook, line and sinker: cybercrime network phishing bank credentials arrested in Romania

A joint operation between Estonia, Lithuania and Romania, supported by Europol and Eurojust, led to the dismantling of an organised crime group involved in fraud, phishing and money laundering. On the action day, officers from the Romanian Police (Poliția Română) searched four houses and arrested three individuals. Further investigations into the scale of the activity are still ongoing.

No safe market for fakes: 21 countries target illegal goods in Europe-wide sting

Europe-wide operation Aphrodite has brought together 21 countries* to target counterfeit goods trafficking. The eight-month operation was co-led by the Italian Finance Corps (Guardia di Finanza) and the Irish National Police (An Garda Síochána) with support from Europol. From December 2019 to July 2020, law enforcement authorities tracked online sales of a large variety of counterfeit items, culminating in checks in warehouses, shops and marketplaces in Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Spain. 

4 hackers arrested in Poland in nation-wide action against cybercrime

Today, the Polish authorities are announcing the arrest of 4 suspected hackers as part of a coordinated strike against cybercrime. Those arrested are believed to be among the most active cybercriminals in the country.   This operation was carried out by the Polish Police Centre Bureau of Investigation (Centralne Biuro Śledecze Policji) under the supervision of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw (Prokuratura Regionalna w Warszawie), together with the cybercrime departments of provincial police headquarters and Europol.

International sting against dark web vendors leads to 179 arrests

Today, a coalition of law enforcement agencies across the world announced the results of a coordinated operation known as DisrupTor which targeted vendors and buyers of illicit goods on the dark web.

Rare books recovered in Romania in €2 million London warehouse heist investigation

On 16 September, following the execution of a European investigation order, a house search led by the Romanian police in the county of Neamt uncovered the rare books buried underground.  Reported stolen from a warehouse in Feltham (UK) in 2017, the priceless historical antiques included first editions of Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton from the sixteenth and seventeenth century.

Joint investigation team leads to dismantling of one of Europe’s most active Albanian-speaking networks trafficking cocaine into Europe

An unprecedented international operation involving judicial and law enforcement authorities in 10 countries has resulted in the complete takedown of the Albanian-speaking ‘KOMPANIA BELLO’ criminal group, one of the most active cocaine-trafficking networks in Europe. 

46 arrested in France and Italy in a hit against the ’Ndrangheta

On Tuesday 15 September, the French Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) and the Italian Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri), supported by Europol and Eurojust, arrested 46 individuals (33 in France and 13 in Italy) for their involvement in large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering. 

Belgian and Italian authorities arrest eight suspected members of the Cosa Nostra

On Tuesday 15 September, Italian State Police (Polizia di Stato Servizio Centrale Operativo) and Belgian Federal Police (Federale Politie/Police Fédérale) supported by Europol, arrested eight individuals (all Italian nationals, three of whom lived in Belgium) with known ties to the Italian crime syndicate Cosa Nostra. They are suspected of mafia association, attempted murders and trafficking drugs and weapons.

Polish police take criminal gang selling fake impotence treatments off the market

The Polish National Police (Policja), supported by Europol, dismantled an organised criminal group involved in the trafficking of counterfeit medicines and money laundering. 

Speedboat cannabis traffickers kept at bay in Spain

The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), supported by Europol, dismantled an organised criminal group involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. The criminals trafficked cannabis from Morocco to the Spanish areas of Algeciras and Campo de Gibraltar. The drugs were concealed and transported on speedboats to a small pier – known as a narco jetty – owned by the criminals. 

Update on the local staff pension fund

Over the period 1 July 1999 - 31 December 2017, Europol employed almost 100 staff members under contracts of employment governed by the Local Staff Regulations (‘LSR’). These employment contracts were concluded in accordance with Dutch labour law and these staff members were referred to as ‘Local Staff’.

18 arrested in crackdown on Lithuanian gang trafficking victims to Ireland and the UK to sell heroin

On 26 August, law enforcement and judicial authorities have made 18 arrests during a massive coordinated operation to smash an organised crime group suspected of trafficking victims from Lithuania to Ireland and the UK (Northern Ireland) to facilitate class A drug dealing. 

One of the biggest online piracy groups in the world taken down

On 25 August, an alleged criminal network of copyright infringing hackers, mainly responsible for pirating movies and hosting illegal digital content worldwide was dismantled in a coordinated action between US authorities and their counterparts in 18 countries around the world, with Europol and Eurojust support. Sixty servers were taken down in North America, Europe and Asia and several of the main suspects were arrested.

Masterminds running one of Germany’s largest illegal tobacco factory arrested

On 18 August, 12 individuals who ran one of Germany’s largest illegal tobacco factory have been arrested in the German city of Kranenburg located near the border with the Netherlands. The illegal factory could produce 10 million cigarettes per week. 

Drug crackdown in Spain sees millions of euros’ worth of criminal assets seized with help of Europol

Over 8 million of euros worth of criminal assets have been seized and 75 suspects arrested during a crackdown on an international marijuana trafficking network operating from the Spanish province of Granada. Code-named ‘Vangelis’, this operation was led by the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) who worked closely together on this case with the Polish Police Central Bureau of Investigation (Centralne Biuro Śledecze Policji) and Europol.

Police in Spain smash sham marriage ring charging migrants €20,000 for bogus nuptials

The Spanish National Police (Policia Nacional) have arrested 12 suspected members of a sham marriage network which facilitated illegal immigration into the European Union by setting up partnerships of convenience between Indian and Pakistani migrants and Romanian nationals.

7 suspects arrested in Spain and France after 6 million of cigarettes seized

On 22 July, Guardia Civil and customs officers raided in the Spanish town of Borjas Blancas an illegal tobacco factory producing 9,000 cigarettes per hour. 7 people were arrested in connection with these raids, including the criminal ringleader at his private residence in the town of Mataró, his accomplice in the town of La Junquera and 2 factory workers arrested at the scene, all of them Lithuanian and Polish nationals.  3 drivers were also arrested in earlier actions against this organised crime group.

Euro counterfeit ring that circulated fake banknotes from Italy to Spain busted

The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), with support from Europol arrested seven individuals and dismantled a criminal network suspected of distributing counterfeit banknotes in Spain which were produced in Italy. It is estimated that the network distributed €30 000 in €20 and €50 counterfeit banknotes in Spain.

How are organised crime groups involved in sports corruption?

Today, Europol publishes its report, The involvement of organised crime groups in sports corruption. The report highlights the link between sports corruption and organised crime: the characteristics of criminal networks, their structure and their modus operandi. In addition, the report analyses the different types of match-fixing as the most prominent form of sports corruption monitored by Europol. 

7 arrested in Poland in latest sting against illegal tobacco

The Polish Border Guard (Straż Graniczna) have arrested 7 individuals and seized €60,000 in cash following raids in the province of Warsaw last week.  These raids were part of an ongoing crackdown on an organised crime group running an illegal tobacco production line. Earlier in February of this year, 21 other members of the same organisation were detained and close to €2 million (7.6 million PLN) worth of cigarettes were seized. 

Beating the tax cheats: two arrests in Italy in fuel fraud raid

Two men have been arrested and a suspected fuel laundering site dismantled as part of an investigation led by the Italian Finance Corps (Guardia Di Finanza) into fuel fraud. The Guardia di Finanza officers from Trieste, supported by their colleagues in Rome, carried out a search of an industrial address on the outskirts of Rome. A suspected fuel laundering plant was dismantled, and 40,000 litres of fuel seized, along with specialised equipment thought to be used in the laundering process. 

Online Jihadist propaganda: 2019 in review

Today, Europol publishes the second edition of its annual report on online Jihadist propaganda. The report by the European Union’s Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) at Europol covers the period from 1 January to 31 December 2019 and highlights the major trends and developments in propaganda of the most prominent Sunni jihadist organisations.

No More Ransom: how 4 millions victims of ransomware have fought back against hackers

While the world is in the grip of a coronavirus outbreak, another virus is quietly wreaking havoc. Although this virus has been around for years, its cases have been rising alarmingly in the past few months and has brought critical activities such as hospitals and governments to a standstill. This virus is ransomware, but a free scheme called No More Ransom is helping victims fight back without paying the hackers.

Europol launches a new grant scheme to combat high-risk organised crime groups

On 23 July 2020, Europol launched an open-ended invitation to submit applications for funding of coordinated operational activities against individuals and organised crime networks that pose a high risk of serious and organised crime to EU Member States. It aims to provide targeted financing for activities of the operational task forces set up in accordance with Europol’s Standard Operating Procedure.

End of the road for keyless car thieves in Germany and Poland

German and Polish law enforcement authorities, supported by Europol, dismantled a network of thieves stealing expensive cars equipped with KEYLESS GO systems. 

320 tonnes of potentially dangerous dairy products taken off the market in operation OPSON IX targeting food fraud

Europol and INTERPOL coordinated operation OPSON 2020 which targeted trafficking of counterfeit and substandard food and beverages.

Mexico and Europol sign working arrangement on security matters

The Mexican Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) signed a formal Working Arrangement to expand and deepen collaboration on security matters. Mr Fabian Medina, Chief of Cabinet of the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, exchanged the signed Arrangement with Europol’s Executive Director, Ms Catherine De Bolle, at Europol headquarters in The Hague today, when holding high-level consultations.

28 bird traffickers netting €1 million per year arrested in Spain

280 exotic birds were recovered, valued at over one million euros, among which featured macaws, parrots and cockatoos, all of which are endangered species protected by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). These birds were destined to be sold to North African countries – Morocco in particular, where the demand for them is high. Codenamed ‘ORATIX’, this operation took place earlier this year in February and March in the Spanish cities of Malaga, Murcia, Granada, Alicante and Asturias. 

Possibly largest ever bust of banknote counterfeiters in the history of the euro

Law enforcement authorities from Italy, Belgium and France, supported by Europol, dismantled an organised crime network involved in euro counterfeiting. On the action day on 15 July 2020, officers from the Italian Carabinieri Corps (Carabinieri) and its specialised Anti-Counterfeit Currency Unit arrested 44 suspects and froze criminal assets worth €8 million in Italy.