Eurojust and Europol work leads to arrests in a major drug trafficking network

cde.news desk 5 November 2019, 14:26 · 1 min read

epa05964226 (FILE) - An exterior view of the new Europol headquarters, the alliance of the European Union police and a multinational research organization, in The Hague, The Netherlands 01 July 2011, (reissued 14 May 2017). Media reports on 14 May 2017 state that experts of Europol expect a wave of further attacks on computers with so-called 'Ransomware'. A cyber attack hit at least 150 countries world wide with an estimate 200,000 victims, Europol chief Rob Wainwright was cited as saying in an interview with British broadcaster ITV. It is expected that there are even more attacks on computers recorded at the beginning of the new working week, Wainwright added. The so-called 'WannaCry' ransomware cyber attack hit the computers by encrypting files from affected computer units and demanded 300 US dollars through bitcoin to decrypt the files. EPA/LEX VAN LIESHOUT

In a joint action day last week, with the support of Eurojust and Europol, 19 alleged heads of an organised crime group suspected of large-scale drug trafficking from Ivory Coast and Nigeria to Italy, were arrested in Italy and in several other countries, in execution of European Arrest Warrants.

New Europe reports that during the investigation, 150 suspects were arrested. The network smuggled heroin and other drugs to Italy, in false bottoms in shoes and suitcases, and hidden pockets in clothing. The narcotics were treated with spices to render them undetectable via x-ray, and to drug-sniffing dogs.

In total, 230 kg of heroin, 20 kg of cocaine and 2 kg of MDMA were seized during the action day.

Topics Drug trafficking eurojust Europol