20.11.23 – More than 200 convicted in Italy’s maxi-trial involving the ‘ndrangheta crime syndicate. The defendants had been charged with crimes that include drug and arms trafficking, extortion and mafia association, a term in Italy’s penal code for members of organized crime groups. Others were charged with acting in complicity with the ’ndrangheta without actually being a member. An Italian tribunal on Monday convicted 207 people and sentenced them to a combined 2,100 years in prison on charges related to their membership in Italy’s ’ndrangheta organized crime syndicate, one of the world’s most powerful, extensive and wealthy drug-trafficking groups.
22.11.23 – Gardaí seize over €100,000 in cash after Westmeath operation targeting an organised crime group. Gardaí have seized over €100,000 in cash and around €50,000 worth of stolen vehicle parts, jewellery, and watches after an operation in Westmeath. The searches were carried out yesterday and today as part of ongoing investigations into the activities of an Eastern European organised crime group. Gardaí from the Meath / Westmeath Divisional Crime Hub launched a search and arrest operation in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, yesterday. In the course of the operation, seven properties were searched under warrant, resulting in the seizure of cash totalling €104,500.
23.11.23 – Croatian narco boss arrested in Istanbul. Europol supported an investigation involving Croatian, German, Spanish and Turkish law enforcement authorities into large-scale cocaine trafficking as part of the Operational Taskforce Balkan Cartel. The operational activities led to the arrest of a Croatian high-value target, who was intercepted last week in Istanbul (Türkiye). The suspect is believed to be in charge of a major drug trafficking organisation importing cocaine from South America to Europe. In addition to drug trafficking, the individual is suspected of being behind a number of other criminal activities, including violence and attempted murder. He is also connected to the orchestration of a one-ton shipment of cocaine to Europe, seized in Spain in 2020. The following day, in the framework of a national investigation, Turkish authorities arrested another EU High Value Target on a money laundering charges.
24.11.23 – Dog rescued from a life of organised crime – Happy ending for “unwitting accomplice” Camila. A dog used in attempt to bring cocaine worth £800,000 into the UK will be rehomed after her owner was jailed for 6 years and 4 months following an NCA investigation. Two-year-old Camila was brought to the UK in May by Mexican national Jorge Pablo Samano Galas, 43. On arrival at Heathrow, Animal AirCare Reception Centre staff carrying out standard welfare checks on the dog noticed that her crate felt unusually heavy, was oddly sized and smelt strongly of paint stripper. They examined the crate, and – after finding ten one kilo blocks of a white substance hidden within a false base – called in Border Force, who confirmed the substance was cocaine.
26.11.23 – Greek police arrest 6 alleged migrant traffickers and are looking for 7 others from the same gang. Greek police have arrested six people who they say are members of a large human trafficking gang that violently extorted money from migrants to assist them in crossing into neighbouring Albania and travel to European Union countries to the north. The six suspects — a Syrian, a Palestinian and four Iraqis — were arrested Saturday at a village less than 10 kilometres (six miles) from the Albanian border, police said Sunday. Seven more members of the gang were arrested in the same area on Sept. 28. At that time, 11 migrants had been found detained in shacks and abandoned military outposts.
