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, […]
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2022 EMPACT results: fighting organised crime
The 2022 results of the EU’s flagship instrument to fight organised crime have been published. Across its 15 crime areas, EU-wide law enforcement and judicial actions have led to: 9 922 arrests identification of 4 019 victims of trafficking of human beings 3 646 migrant smugglers arrested over €180 million seized over 62 tonnes of […]
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Terrorism in the EU in 2022 – facts and figures
Europol’s European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2023 (TE-SAT) provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date intelligence picture on terrorism in the European Union. This report is based on data provided to Europol by EU Member States on terrorist attacks and terrorism-related arrests in the European Union. Key findings for 2022 Terrorism continues to pose a […]
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European Parliament calls for coordinated strategy to protect 2024 European elections against foreign interference
Parliament calls for a coordinated strategy to increase the EU’s resilience to foreign interference and information manipulation and protect the 2024 European elections . Foreign interference, disinformation, and attacks on democracy are likely to continue in ever-greater numbers and to become more sophisticated in the run-up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024, say […]
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Guardia Civil, with Europol support, arrests 30 people in operation against large-scale drug trafficking network
The Spanish Guardia Civil has dismantled a criminal network engaged in large-scale drug trafficking from South America to Europe. Europol supported the operation against the criminals, who used an elaborate modus operandi to retrieve smuggled cocaine from shipping containers in the Spanish port of Algeciras. The organisation relied on a dedicated front companies to launder […]
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Joint Statement on the repudiatory acts of violence in Putumayo and the process of dialogue between the Government and the Central General Staff
We, the undersigned, the National Conciliation Commission (CNC), international organizations and countries that have been following the process of rapprochement between the Government of Colombia and the Central High Command, declare the following regarding the repudiatory acts of violence that have occurred in Putumayo and the process of dialogue and ceasefire between the parties: We […]
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Europol assists in dismantling one of Europe’s largest pirate IPTV services
Europol has supported the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) in taking down an illegal IPTV (Internet Protocol television) service serving over 1 000 000 users across Europe. On 23 May, a series of raids were carried out across the Netherlands as part of an illegal streaming crackdown. The officers from the FIOD searched […]
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MEPs vote to speed up the freezing and confiscation of criminal assets
The new legislation on seizing criminal assets would ensure fast and efficient freezing operations everywhere in the EU, and quicker compensation for victims. To speed up asset freezing and confiscations and close loopholes, MEPs on the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee adopted on Tuesday a draft position on new rules with 50 votes […]
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EU prisons: prison numbers and overcrowding
In 2021, there were 475 038 prisoners in the EU, equivalent to 106 prisoners per 100 000 people. The prisoner rate increased after a decline in 2020 (104 prisoners per 100 000 people) but remained the second-lowest figure since the turn of the century. The highest prisoner rates per 100 000 people in 2021 were […]
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