Europol

Spain dismantles major Western Mediterranean migrant-smuggling network

Europol supported a Spanish-led investigation that dismantled one of the largest criminal networks smuggling cannabis, synthetic drugs, migrants, weapons, and even fugitives across the Western Mediterranean. The network was linked…

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German and Serbian authorities launch joint strike against Syrian migrant smuggling group

A coordinated international operation has dealt a significant blow to two international migrant smuggling networks with close links to Libya and the Western Balkans, leading to the arrest of three…

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Norwegian-led investigation into dark web child abuse forums leads to arrests across seven countries

A coordinated international operation supported by Europol has resulted in the arrest of 28 people as part of an investigation into child sexual exploitation, with authorities also safeguarding three children.…

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Worldwide human trafficking sting nets more than 1,000 suspects

This year’s edition of the annual effort took place from 8 to 12 June 2026 with coordination and support from Europol, Frontex, and INTERPOL. It aimed to detect and disrupt…

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29 arrested as law enforcement strikes criminal networks behind illegal streaming

Criminal networks making millions from illegal access to premium sports broadcasts, film and television channels have been targeted in a major international operation coordinated by Bulgaria with Europol’s support. The…

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Nine arrested as Spain targets Mediterranean migrant smuggling operation

Spanish authorities arrested nine people and dismantled a migrant smuggling network that allegedly transported irregular migrants from Algeria to Spain and onward to other European countries, Europol said. The operation…

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European police bust Albanian investment and call centre scam

A criminal gang suspected of running ‌an investment fraud scheme via call centres in Albania has been dismantled, the pan-European police body Europol said on Wednesday. Europol said the operation,…

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Leading Balkan Cartel member arrested in Montenegro

On 15 April 2026, Europol supported law enforcement authorities in Montenegro in conducting a large-scale operation targeting a significant cell of the Balkan Cartel. Europol also supported law enforcement authorities…

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From Vietnam to the EU by air: 8 arrested in a migrant smuggling sting across Europe

On 30 March 2026, a coordinated international French-led operation, which was supported by Europol and involved law enforcement and judicial authorities from Germany and Hungary, led to the dismantling of…

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Guns-for-cannabis network hit: Europol high-value target arrested in international action

A Europol high-value target has been arrested and key members of his criminal network targeted during a coordinated action on 23 March across Spain, Bulgaria and Greece. The network is…

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New department at Europol to step up the fight against migrant smuggling

Europol has launched its new European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS), stepping up the European Union fight against migrant smuggling networks that are threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands…

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Malta joins Europol’s largest-ever action targeting terrorist audio propaganda

Europol has coordinated the largest Referral Action Day (RAD) to date targeting terrorist propaganda shared through audio content, resulting in the referral of 17 298 URLs across 40 online platforms.…

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12 members of money laundering scheme exploiting Ukrainian women arrested in Spain

An international operation in Spain targeting a money laundering scheme resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects. The disrupted criminal network systematically exploited vulnerable Ukrainian women to open bank accounts,…

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International crackdown dismantles sprawling drug network spanning Europe, Asia and Australia

An international law-enforcement operation has dismantled key parts of a sprawling drug trafficking and money-laundering network operating across Europe, Asia and Australia, after investigators unlocked crucial data from two mobile…

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Montenegrin Kingpin Arrested in France as Financial Trail Exposes Europe-Wide Cocaine Trafficking Network

An international criminal network laundering cocaine profits for Italian organised crime has been dismantled after investigators followed the money trail across Europe. What began as suspicious financial movements uncovered a…

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Europol Operation Blocks €1.2 Billion in Fake Banknotes, With China-Linked Shipments Under Scrutiny

Law enforcement authorities from 18 countries have stopped an estimated EUR 1.2 billion in counterfeit banknotes and coins from entering circulation during Operation DECOY III, a Europol-coordinated action led by…

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Europol breaks up Europe-wide drugs network based in Poland running 20 illegal labs

European investigators uncovered an international synthetic drugs network run from Poland and have seized more than 9.3 tonnes of narcotics and arrested over 100 suspects, Polish prosecutors said on Wednesday.…

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34 arrests in Spain during action against the ‘Black Axe’ criminal organisation

The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), in close cooperation with the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (Bayerisches Landeskriminalamt) and with the support of Europol, has conducted an operation against the…

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New fugitives added to revamped EU Most Wanted website

The EU Most Wanted website has been revamped, with a new visual identity and enhanced functionality making it easier than ever for the public to help bring dangerous fugitives to…

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Maltese police join international crackdown on €700 million crypto-fraud network

The final actions in a sweeping international operation have successfully dismantled a large-scale cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering network that had laundered over EUR 700 million. Coordinated across multiple jurisdictions,…

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Europol aided France, Spain, Italy, and Romania disrupt human trafficking organized crime networks

In two joint operations conducted this month, Europol supported France and Spain as well as Italy and Romania in disrupting large-scale organised crime groups involved in human trafficking and sexual…

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16.6 million packages of fake and harmful toys taken off EU markets

Fake toys are poisoning, deafening and injuring children across Europe, while causing major losses to the EU economy. 26 countries, coordinated by Europol, co-led by France, Spain and Romania, and…

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Europe-Wide Operation Targets Labour Exploitation, 54 Arrests

Authorities across Europe have carried out a coordinated operation to tackle labour exploitation, resulting in 54 arrests and the identification of 404 potential victims of human trafficking. The action, led…

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Europol urges action against caller ID spoofing

Europol is calling for a coordinated European response to tackle caller ID spoofing, an increasingly common tool, used for online fraud and social engineering scams. Caller ID spoofing occurs when…

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Luxury hybrid car thieves taken down in Belgium, Italy and Spain

A highly specialised organised crime network responsible for the theft of more than 100 luxury hybrid cars has been dismantled in an international operation led by the Italian Carabinieri with…

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New routes and concealment methods identified in cocaine crackdowns in Spain

Europol supported Portuguese and Spanish authorities in two major investigations against cocaine trafficking involving law enforcement on both sides of the Atlantic. These operations exemplified a shifting landscape of global…

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Arrests in crackdown on human trafficking network active across continents

Europol coordinated a joint action day between the Brazilian Federal Police (Polícia Federal) and the Irish National Police and Security Service (An Garda Síochána) against a criminal network involved in…

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Millions in Forged Banknotes Confiscated in Global Operation

Europol has supported a joint law enforcement operation that disrupted the distribution of counterfeit currency through postal services. The action resulted in the interception of nearly one million items, including…

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Internationally active Albanian organised crime network busted

A series of raids performed 7 to 8 August 2025 in Albania saw the arrest of 10 suspected members of an Albanian organised crime network engaged in multi-tonne cocaine trafficking…

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Europol-Backed Crackdown Halts Cross-Border ATM Scam

A highly organised criminal group involved in large-scale fraud in Western Europe has been dismantled in a coordinated operation led by authorities from Romania and the United Kingdom (UK), supported…

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158 human traffickers arrested and 1,194 victims safeguarded in global operation

A major operation against human trafficking has resulted in the safeguarding of 1 ,194 potential victims and the arrest of 158 suspects. As part of ongoing investigations, an additional 205…

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‘Ndrangheta associates arrested for drug trafficking and violence

Europol has supported Italian law enforcement in dealing a heavy blow to the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organisation. In an action day conducted on 8 July 2025 across Italy, Spain and Albania,…

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Spanish operation against migrant smuggling and drug trafficking across the Mediterranean

Europol has supported Spanish authorities (Policía Nacional) in a transnational operation against a highly-organised network involved in both migrant smuggling and drug trafficking between Spain and Morocco. Authorities believe the…

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Drug route from Costa Rica to Europe dismantled

n international operation coordinated on the European side by Europol has dismantled a transnational criminal organisation trafficking large quantities of cocaine from Costa Rica to Europe via Spain and Portugal.…

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Bulgarian authorities arrest 18 for smuggling migrants across its southern border

A criminal network smuggling mainly Syrian migrants from Türkiye to Western Europe has been taken down following a coordinated action led by the Bulgarian authorities and supported by Europol. On…

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Global dark web crackdown targeting online drug and criminal networks

A global law enforcement operation coordinated by Europol has struck a major blow to the criminal underground, with 270 arrests of dark web vendors and buyers across ten countries. Known…

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Europol and Microsoft disrupt world’s largest infostealer Lumma

Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre has worked with Microsoft to disrupt Lumma Stealer (“Lumma”), the world’s most significant infostealer threat. This joint operation targeted the sophisticated ecosystem that allowed criminals to…

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Global crackdown on Kidflix, a major child sexual exploitation platform with almost two million users

Kidflix, one of the largest paedophile platforms in the world, has been shut down in an international operation against child sexual exploitation. The investigation was supported by Europol and led…

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Latest study on Europe’s ecstasy market reveals new trends in production and trafficking

Criminal groups in Europe are adapting and expanding MDMA production, refining trafficking methods and extending their reach to new countries and regions. These are among the issues explored in a…

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The DNA of organised crime is changing – and so is the threat to Europe

Europol’s EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU-SOCTA) 2025, published today, reveals how the very DNA of crime is shifting – reshaping the tactics, tools and structures employed by…

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Large cocaine bust in Ecuador: 36 arrested after 73 tonnes of drugs seized

A large-scale drug trafficking investigation, supported by Europol, led to the dismantling of an Ecuadorian criminal cell involved in supplying wholesale cocaine to the EU via major ports. The international…

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14 arrested in hit against money laundering gang in Portugal and Spain

Europol has supported a cross-border operation led by Spanish authorities and involving law enforcement from Portugal against the members of a criminal network, mainly Russian nationals, who provided money-laundering services…

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Europe faces growing threat of fake drugs, Europol warns

The illicit trade of fake medicines is a “growing threat” in Europe, EU’s law enforcement agency warned. There is a rise in the trade of either sub-standard, falsely labelled or…

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6 tonnes of cocaine and EUR 6 million seized in large drug sting involving Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama

The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), supported by Europol, has dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking network in an investigation involving Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama. The suspects were allegedly…

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Violent human traffickers halted in Germany and Hungary

The German Criminal Inspectorate (Karlsruhe Kriminalinspektion) and the Hungarian National Bureau of Investigation THB Unit (Nemzeti Nyomozó Iroda Emberkereskedelem Elleni Osztály), supported by Europol, have dismantled a criminal network involved…

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24 new fugitives added to the EU Most Wanted website

New profiles of murderers and criminals wanted for serious crimes have been added to the EU Most Wanted website. These individuals have blood on their hands – they have caused…

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France arrests 26 for smuggling migrants from Indian sub-continent

A French-led investigation, supported by Europol, has resulted in the dismantling of a large criminal network comprising several small criminal groups involved in migrant smuggling and money laundering. The extensive…

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Heroin kingpin arrested after 703 kilos of heroin found in soap shipment

An international law enforcement operation supported by Europol has led to the arrest of a suspected heroin trafficker running a criminal network stretching from Iran to Western Europe. The investigation…

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Violent Albanian criminal group linked to corruption disrupted with the support of Europol

On 25 November, Albanian authorities, with the support of Europol, took enforcement actions against 21 individuals, including a former judge, a lawyer a police officer, and two investigative journalists as…

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Europol warns of organised crime networks recruiting minors for criminal acts

Europol has today issued an intelligence notification on the recruitment of minors by criminal networks across Europe. Developed using information contributed to Europol from law enforcement authorities, the notification exposes…

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Over EUR 14 million in counterfeit currency seized in operation targeting postal shipments

Law enforcement agencies from 18 countries have seized over EUR 14 million in counterfeit currency in Operation DECOY, a Europol-coordinated action led by Spain, Portugal, and Austria. This joint customs…

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The dark side of fake goods

As consumers prepare for year-end festivities, many are looking for great deals. But a new report from Europol and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is warning that scammers…

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‘Ghost’ cybercrime platform dismantled in global operation, 51 arrested

An international law enforcement operation has dismantled an encrypted communication platform, known as Ghost, notorious for enabling large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering, Europol said on Wednesday. The investigation led…

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UPDATED: Forger linked to 11 mln euros of fake notes arrested in Italy

A forger suspected of printing 11 million euros' ($12 million) worth of fake bank notes was arrested in the Italian city of Naples last week, European police body Europol said.…

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