04.07.23 – Syrian gang leader arrested with 14 other suspects in Spain. Europol supported the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) in dismantling an organised criminal network smuggling migrants from Syria to the EU. Law enforcement authorities from France, Germany and Norway were also involved in the investigation. The investigation revealed that the criminal network, possibly active since 2017, was involved in a wide range of illegal activities, including migrant smuggling and the trafficking of drugs and firearms. Well established in several EU and Middle Eastern countries, the criminal network used an unusually long and expensive route to smuggle irregular migrants from Syria into the EU; starting in Syria, irregular migrants were taken via Sudan or the UAE towards Libya. From Libya they were taken to Algeria, before the journey into Europe via the Mediterranean.
05.07.23 – 21 arrested for labour exploitation and 261 victims identified. Between 10 and 17 June 2023 Europol coordinated EMPACT Joint Action Days (JADs) targeting human trafficking for labour exploitation purposes. The JADs were led by the Netherlands, and carried out by law enforcement and labour authorities from 31 countries with support from Eurojust, the European Labour Authority and Frontex. Over 27 000 officers carried out inspections in a total of 11 360 locations in a range of sectors, including gastronomy, agriculture and the beauty industry, focusing in particular on the exploitation of non-EU nationals and refugees. Over the span of the action week, 65 839 individuals and 22 958 vehicles were checked. As a result of these checks, 57 suspects were identified and 21 were arrested for labour exploitation, with a total of 261 victims identified. Data gathered during the operation has led to the launch of 86 new investigations in order to identify further potential suspects and victims linked to human trafficking cases across the EU and abroad. This interlinked approach, which involved both law enforcement and labour authorities, facilitated the exchange of information and knowledge about human trafficking indicators.
05.07.23 – Forbidden fruit: 24 arrested after Portuguese authorities seize cocaine hidden in acai shipment. An international law enforcement operation supported by Europol has led to the dismantling of a Brazilian cartel flooding Europe with cocaine. A number of actions have been carried out over recent months in Brazil, Spain and Portugal to target the members of this highly professional criminal syndicate. On 4 May, coordinated raids were carried out in Spain and Portugal. 20 house searches were executed in Spain (provinces of Málaga, Cordoba, Madrid, Cantabria, Vizcaya) and 4 in Portugal (Cascais and Sintra), resulting in 24 arrests. Over 73 kilos of methamphetamine, 5 firearms and more than EUR 116 000 in cash were seized. Seven other members of the same gang had been arrested earlier in Spain, Portugal and Brazil. This series of arrests follows the June 2022 seizure of 800 kilos of cocaine hidden in a container of frozen acai berries originating from Brazil, in the port of Sines, Portugal.
06.07.23 – Police seize £130m worth of cannabis in UK-wide crackdown. Police have seized up to £130m worth of cannabis plants and arrested almost 1,000 people in the UK’s largest ever crackdown on organised crime. More than 180,000 plants were discovered in raids across England and Wales in June. Officers also seized 20 firearms, £636,000 in cash and 20kg of cocaine, with a potential street value of £1m. The operation has been described as the “most significant” of its kind ever run across UK law enforcement.
09.07.23 – More than 700 firearms recovered in ground-breaking NCA-led operation. More than 700 firearms have been recovered in the UK after an operation led by the National Crime Agency. Converted firearms Raymond Nugent. The huge number was achieved in a five-year long project the NCA led with the Guardia Civil in Spain, UK policing, Border Force, international law enforcement and international gun retailers to prevent easily convertible guns entering the country.
