09.10.23 – Hundreds jailed in Met’s largest-ever operation against Organised Crime Groups. More than 400 criminals jailed in “unprecedented” Met Police EncroChat operationScroll back up to restore default view. More than 400 criminals have been jailed after the Met used a “treasure trove” of information gathered by listening to the conversations held by organised crime groups on devices they thought were secure. Operation Eternal was launched three and a half years ago in the largest-ever operation against organised crime groups. The criminals used encrypted EncroChat devices to organise multi-kilo drug deals, launder money, and plan violence and in some cases murder.

10.10.23 – 30 million euros worth of seizures in first OPSON Europe. The Europol-coordinated operation, OPSON Europe, took place between December 2022 and April 2023. This year’s operation is the 12th consecutive operation OPSON. The focus of this latest operation was the European market, where operation activities targeted food fraud in customs areas, physical and online markets (e-commerce platforms) and across the food supply chain. The operation involved law enforcement authorities from 25* countries (18 EU Member States and 7 European countries) and was supported by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), the European Commission Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), as well as national food regulatory authorities and private-sector partners.

11.10.23 – 2 040 tonnes of illegal pesticides seized and 21 suspects arrested in global operation. Operation Silver Axe VIII, Europol’s annual operation targeting fake or illegal pesticides, took place between 23 January and 28 April 2023 and involved law enforcement authorities from 32 countries (all EU Member States and five third-party countries). The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), CropLife Europe and CropLife International supported the operation. In total, law enforcement seized 2 040 tonnes of fake or illegal pesticides, arrested 21 suspects and dismantled several production facilities used to counterfeit pesticides.

11.10.23 – Human trafficking ring exploiting children halted in Serbia. Europol has supported the Serbian Police in dismantling a criminal network involved in human trafficking for the purposes of forced marriage, forced begging and forced criminality. The family-based criminal network is suspected of committing these crimes against a number of underage victims under the authority of the suspects. The investigation also involved law enforcement authorities from Austria, France and Germany. The investigation targeted a family-based criminal organisation involved in the trafficking of minors aged between 5 and 17 years and young women. The individuals are suspected of having trafficked their own biological children and other children with whom they have family ties. The suspects allegedly forced the minors to beg and commit crimes in Serbia, Austria, France and Germany. Investigative leads indicate that the suspects exploited the minors and also sold victims to other perpetrators located outside of Serbia.

13.10.23 – South African authorities target coal-smuggling gang they say contributed to a power crisis. South African authorities said they conducted raids across five provinces Thursday to break up a coal-smuggling syndicate they blamed for stealing more than $26 million in coal, degrading state-owned power plants and contributing to an electricity crisis. The criminal gang diverted trucks carrying high-grade coal to power stations, stealing the coal to sell, and replacing it with sub-standard product, the country’s tax and revenue agency said in a statement. The substandard coal has caused crippling damage to the country’s power plants, authorities said.