05.06.23 – New action against ‘Ndrangheta in Italy, Belgium and Germany. Eurojust and Europol have supported the competent authorities in Italy, Belgium and Germany in a new operation against international drug trafficking allegedly carried out by the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organisation. During a joint action day, thirty-one suspects were arrested and assets worth over EUR 3.8 million were seized. Over 840 officers participated in the actions on the ground.
06.06.23 – One of Europe’s Biggest Underground Bankers Arrested in Greece. A notorious money launderer, cleaning the dirty money of the world’s foremost criminals, has been arrested on 31 May in Athens in Greece. His arrest follows a long investigation from the Dutch Police (Politie) into the activities of this underground banker operating in the Netherlands. The man is suspected of leading a criminal organisation which laundered millions of euros on a monthly basis for criminals. This arrest was supported within the framework of the Operational Taskforce TOKEN set up at Europol to target the networks facilitating underground banking worldwide.
06.06.23 – About EUR 87 million worth of fake clothes, shoes and accessories seized. Between March and December 2022, Europol coordinated the first EU-wide operation against the illegal trade in counterfeit apparel, footwear and accessories. Operation Fake Star, led by the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) and co-led by the Hellenic Police (Ελληνική Αστυνομία) with support from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), involved 17 countries in total.
07.06.23 – Joint raids on the Balkan route see migrant smugglers halted. Europol has supported a joint investigation between Germany, Romania and Serbia into an organised crime network smuggling migrants across the Balkan route. The operation, facilitated by Eurojust at the judicial level, as well as by the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC), involved also authorities from Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Türkiye.
11.06.23 – Alleged Kinahan organised crime group members arrested in Spain. Two men suspected of being members of the Kinahan organised crime group have been arrested in Spain. Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin and Jack Kavanagh, 22, from Tamworth in Staffordshire were wanted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on suspicion of firearms offences. Their arrests follow an NCA intelligence-led investigation, supported by members of An Garda Siochana and the Spanish National Police.
