CDE News

Spanish police arrests 5 people on suspicion of terrorist attack

With the active support of Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre, the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) has arrested in Barcelona and Madrid five suspected members of an Islamic State cell. The…

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Labour in vineyards and farms checked across Europe

Between 09 and 16 September 2021, Europol supported Europe-wide coordinated action days against human trafficking for labour exploitation in the agricultural sector. The operation, led by France, involved a wide…

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Netherlands, Belgium supplant Spain as main gateways into Europe for cocaine

Belgium and the Netherlands have become the main hubs for cocaine trafficking to Europe, supplanting Spain as the main route of entry into European countries, Europol said. The report from…

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23 charged over Covid-19 business email compromise fraud

A sophisticated fraud scheme using compromised emails and advance-payment fraud has been uncovered by authorities in Romania, the Netherlands and Ireland as part of an action coordinated by Europol. On…

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18 arrested for smuggling more than 490 migrants across the Balkan route

Officers from the Romanian Police (Poliția Română) and Border Police (Poliția de Frontieră Română), supported by Europol, dismantled an organised crime group involved in migrant smuggling across the so-called Balkan…

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18 arrests in Europol sting against migrant smugglers

An investigation led by the Spanish National Police, with close cooperation with the Albanian Police and law enforcement and immigration authorities in Austria, France, Italy, Slovenia, Kosovo, Portugal, the United…

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Nine arrested in Moldova and France for €2 million immigration fraud

In the early hours of 28 June, some hundred officers from the French National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) and the Moldovan Border Police (Poliția de Frontieră a Republicii Moldova) with the…

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“DoubleVPN” service used by hackers seized and shut down

Europol, the European police coordinating agency, said on Wednesday that police in Europe, the United States and Canada had seized the domains and servers of "DoubleVPN", a network used by…

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Six arrested for armed robberies of jewellery shops across Europe

An organised crime group behind a sting of violent armed robberies committed across Europe has been dismantled as a result of an international investigation facilitated by Europol. A total of…

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Drugs, weapons, cars and cash: Operation Greenlight/Trojan Shield, the global crime bust in figures

Global law enforcement agencies have busted an international crime network by monitoring encrypted phones used by criminals, leading to hundreds of arrests as well as drug and weapon seizures across…

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Over 800 persons detained global crackdown on organised hi-tech crime

Global law enforcement agencies hacked into an app used by criminals and read millions of encrypted messages, leading to hundreds of arrests of organised crime figures in 18 countries, officials…

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Three arrested for smuggling over 250 Vietnamese migrants to Germany

In the early hours of 31 May, some 740 police officers carried out coordinated raids across Germany and Slovakia against the members of a criminal syndicate smuggling Vietnamese nationals into…

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Hit against Euro counterfeiters linked to the Camorra

On 20 May 2021, Europol supported the German Regional Criminal Police of Nordrhein-Westfalen (Landeskriminalamt Nordrhein-Westfalen) and the Italian Finance Corps (Guardia di Finanza) of Rome and Naples in dismantling an…

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UPDATED: German police make arrests over massive child pornography website

German police have uncovered one of the world’s largest underground websites for child pornography with more than 400,000 users and arrested four people connected to the platform, prosecutors said on…

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Europe’s police crack down on cross-border crime groups

More than 200 people were arrested last week in 17 European countries in a coordinated crackdown on cross-border movements of stolen goods, illegal drugs and cash, the European police agency…

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WADA and Europol enter into agreement to for cooperation in sports doping

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement (Europol). WADA said the agreement will formally establish and facilitate…

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UPDATED: 10 held in Europol coordinated operation for alleged $100m cryptocurrency theft

Europol, the European police agency, announced it had assisted in the arrest of 10 hackers suspected of stealing $100 million in cryptocurrency in “SIM-swapping” attacks that allowed suspects to gain…

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Cybercriminals’ favourite VPN taken down in global action

The virtual private network (VPN) Safe-Inet used by the world’s foremost cybercriminals has been taken down over the Christmas period in a coordinated law enforcement action led by the German…

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Malta: Europol experts cross-examined by Yorgen Fenech’s lawyers

Europol data extraction experts are facing questions from lawyers defending Yorgen Fenech on Wednesday, as the compilation of evidence against him continues. Fenech stands accused of complicity in the murder…

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Malta: Yorgen Fenech’s data takes centre stage in Daphne case

Europol experts are testifying on Monday about emails, texts and audio messages extracted from devices linked to Yorgen Fenech. Experts from the EU law enforcement agency have spent months extracting…

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Malta: Individual raided in connection to IPTV crackdown

Police seized IPTV equipment from an individual following searches made in three different properties belonging to the same individual last week. A police spokesperson explained that on 10 November, the…

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Turkish firearms seized in international sweep against illegal trafficking of weapons

A total of 24 European countries - Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal,…

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Large group involved in arms trafficking in the Mediterranean dismantled

An investigation that involved the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), Mossos d’Esquadra and the Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) and supported by Europol, led to the dismantling of a large…

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Nearly 400 arrested across Europe in anti-child trafficking operation

Europol revealed that it coordinated a Europe-wide operation with Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom targeting child trafficking. The operation, also supported by Frontex, took place between 5 and 11…

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Europol led dark web drugs raid leads to 179 arrests

Police forces around the world have seized more than $6.5m in cash and virtual currencies, as well as drugs and guns in a coordinated raid on dark web marketplaces. Some…

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Original stolen books from Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton found in Romania

During a house search led by the Romanian authorities in the county of Neamt several rare books buried underground were discovered. The books were reported stolen from a warehouse in…

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Dismantling of an encrypted network sends shockwaves through organised crime groups across Europe

Europol and Eurojust have supported the French and Dutch law enforcement authorities in a joint effort to dismantle EncroChat, an encrypted phone network widely used by criminal networks. Over the…

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Malta: Police investigate 17 Black-Montenegro deal ‘in collaboration with Europol’

Police are working with Europol to investigate revelations that Yorgen Fenech’s company 17 Black made millions through an Enemalta wind farm deal in Montenegro. In a brief statement issued on…

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Major European operation against fraud gang based in Bulgaria and Serbia

A large criminal network involved in fraud, money laundering and social engineering was dismantled in an international investigation. Europol and Eurojust supported the investigation which involved law enforcement and judicial…

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Europol warns against coronavirus scams

The European police authority has warned that con artists are preying on fears of illness by offering fake masks, medicine, COVID-19 tests and even vaccines. Across Europe, many companies and…

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Balkan cocaine cartel taken down in Montenegro

A large Balkan criminal network trafficking drugs, mainly cocaine, from source countries to Europe has been dismantled in a large international operation. This hit has severely disrupted/cut one of the…

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Pan-European operation against trafficking of illegal medical products nets €7.9 million

Europol supported a pan-European operation targeting the illicit online and offline trafficking of misused and counterfeit medicines. The operation, led by the French National Gendarmerie (Central Office against Environmental and…

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Indian nationals’ sham marriages for immigration network’s ring leader arrested in Germany

A cross-border criminal investigation into Indian nationals entering into bogus marriages for immigration purposes has led to the arrest on 26 February in Germany of the ringleader of the network.…

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Huge operation against illegal IPTV distributors in Bulgaria

Europol supported a massive crackdown on illegal IPTV distributors in an operation executed by the Cybercrime Unit of the Bulgarian General Directorate Combating Organised Crime of the Ministry of Interior…

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Fuel trafficking ring between Poland and Slovakia dismantled

Europol supported an international operation led by the Criminal Office of the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic (Finančná správa Slovenskej republiky) in cooperation with Polish Customs (Służba Celna). The…

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Crime gang makes over €2 million trafficking illegal steroids worldwide

An investigation by the Financial Police Division of Hellenic Police, the Central Office to fight Against Environmental and Public Health Crime (OCLAESP) and French Customs (Direction générale des douanes et…

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Over 10 persons arrested for buying counterfeit euros on the Darknet

Between 9 and 11 December 2019 Europol coordinated joint raids against the sale of counterfeit euro banknotes on illegal platforms on the Darknet. Law enforcement authorities from seven EU Member…

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Europe wide operation smashes WhatsApp groups that created and exchanged child abuse material

A successful operation in encrypted chat groups has been carried out by Policia Nacional of Spain. The investigation, begun in 2017 and led by the Central High Tech Crime Unit,…

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International crackdown on RAT spyware which takes total control of victims’ PCs

A hacking tool that was able to give full remote control of a victim’s computer to cybercriminals has been taken down as a result of an international law enforcement operation…

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Over 70 arrested in worldwide crackdown on airline fraud

Between 18 – 22 November 2019, 60 countries, 56 airlines and 12 online travel agencies were involved in the 12th edition of the Global Airline Action Days (GAAD), an international…

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Over 20 arrests and around 10 000 cultural items seized in an operation targeting Italian archaeological trafficking

On 18 November 2019, an international police operation involving over 350 police officers, supported by Europol (within the framework of EMPACT) and Eurojust, dismantled an international organised crime group involved…

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Conditional Presidential pardon recommended for man claiming to be ‘middleman’ in Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has signed a letter that assures a presidential pardon to a man who claims to know the mastermind behind Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder plot, once evidence…

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15 arrested in joint police operation against human trafficking gang in Lithuania and Spain

The Lithuanian Police and the Spanish National Police supported by Europol and Eurojust, have dismantled a large organised crime group involved in human trafficking for sexual exploitation. The criminal group,…

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

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…

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International police action against Belarussian organised crime group involved in international cargo thefts

The German Police Department Heidekreis, in cooperation with the French Gendarmerie and Czech authorities, the German State Criminal Police Office of Saxony-Anhalt, EMPACT OPC, and Europol dismantled a Belarussian organised…

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Over 300 potential victims of labour exploitation in the agricultural sector identified in pan-European action

Between 16 and 20 September 2019, Europol supported the first Europe-wide Joint Action Days against human trafficking for labour exploitation focusing specifically on the agricultural sector. The operation, led by…

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Over half a tonne of cocaine found in boat travelling from Brazil to Europe

Operation 26Kearney, led by the Spanish authorities, National Police (Policía Nacional), Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), and the Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) has seen the arrest of five individuals and…

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Four tonnes of cocaine and €2 million in cash seized by Spanish authorities

A joint investigation, coordinated by Spain and involving law enforcement authorities from Colombia, France, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom and supported by Europol, led to the dismantling of…

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66 suspected of arranging illegal adoptions and surrogacies, and human egg trafficking in Greece

Greek law enforcement authorities, supported by Europol, dismantled an organised crime group involved in the trafficking of human beings (selling ova), illegal adoption and money laundering. Active since 2016, the…

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29 arrests in France and Spain in a migrant smuggling case

The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) and the French National Police (Police Nationale), supported by Europol, dismantled a large poly-criminal network involved in migrant smuggling, trafficking of human beings and…

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Europe’s second-largest counterfeit currency network on the dark web taken down in Portugal

The Portuguese Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária) dismantled Europe’s second-largest counterfeit currency network on the dark web with Europol’s support. Five individuals have been arrested and are accused of counterfeiting and…

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13 arrested in Lithuania in €1 million car parts theft ring

An organised crime network originating from Lithuania and specialised in the theft of car parts has been dismantled this week by the German Police of Heilbronn, together with the support…

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70 arrests in pan-European action against child trafficking

Europol supported a pan-European operation against trafficking of minors for sexual exploitation, forced begging and labour exploitation. The operation, led by the United Kingdom, involved law enforcement authorities from 16…

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40 arrested in Spain and France for international vehicle theft and trafficking

Europol has supported the Spanish Guardia Civil and the French Gendarmerie Nationale to dismantle an organised crime group involved in the stealing of vehicles. 40 individuals were arrested in connection…

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Suspect arrested in Greece for large-scale document forgery

With the support of Europol, a 50-year old individual was arrested in Greece for large-scale forgery of documents and facilitating illegal immigration. During the action day on 11 July, the…

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Over 18 000 items seized and 59 arrests made in Europe-wide operation targeting cultural goods

Customs and other law enforcement authorities from 29 countries, coordinated by the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) and supported by Europol, INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO), have joined…

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Huge international police operation against Balkan cartel trafficking cocaine around the globe

Law enforcement agencies from across the globe teamed up against a Balkan organised criminal network suspected of large-scale cocaine trafficking from South America to Europe using private planes. The…

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