The European Commission and Brazil have today adopted mutual adequacy decisions confirming that their data protection levels are comparable. Recognising the high standards of data protection that protect consumers and citizens on both sides, these agreements now allow businesses, public authorities and researchers to freely exchange data between the EU and Brazil. By ensuring that […]
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34 arrests in Spain during action against the ‘Black Axe’ criminal organisation
The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), in close cooperation with the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (Bayerisches Landeskriminalamt) and with the support of Europol, has conducted an operation against the international criminal organisation ‘Black Axe’. The action resulted in 34 arrests and significant disruptions to the group’s activities. Black Axe is a highly structured, hierarchical […]
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Help4U: A new digital platform to support young people facing online sexual abuse
A new digital platform, Help4U, developed by Europol and CENTRIC, has been launched to support children and teenagers facing sexual abuse or online harm. Designed to be simple, private, and accessible, Help4U supports young people with finding trusted advice, understanding their rights, and connecting with people who can help. The platform offers clear, practical guidance for […]
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54 individuals arrested in action against labour exploitation
Over the last weeks, law enforcement, border guards and labour and tax authorities across Europe joined forces to identify and tackle labour exploitation. This recent edition of the EMPACT Joint Action Days targeted trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation purposes, with a special emphasis on the agricultural sector, gastronomy, and temporary work agencies. In […]
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Operation Chargeback: 4.3 million cardholders affected, EUR 300 million in damages
On 4 November 2025, an international coordinated action day targeted three major fraud and money laundering networks as part of Operation “Chargeback.” Led by the Cybercrime Department (Landeszentralstelle Cybercrime) of the General Prosecutor’s Office (Generalstaatsanwaltschaft) in Koblenz, Germany, and the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt), the operation has been investigating these networks since December […]
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Luxury hybrid car thieves taken down in Belgium, Italy and Spain
A highly specialised organised crime network responsible for the theft of more than 100 luxury hybrid cars has been dismantled in an international operation led by the Italian Carabinieri with support from Europol and Eurojust. The estimated value of all stolen cars is of at least EUR 3 million. The Russian-speaking criminal network, composed mainly […]
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Spain dismantles criminal network smuggling migrants from Algeria to the EU
The Spanish Guardia Civil, supported by Europol, dismantled a criminal network smuggling migrants by boats from Algeria to Spain and onwards to other EU countries. The network, led by a Moroccan national, was comprised of both Algerian and Moroccan suspects based in Spain. Their operations relied on significant financial and logistical resources, misusing legitimate businesses […]
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Stronger customs controls and cooperation on product compliance
A European Commission report about customs controls on product compliance at the EU’s external borders recognises the efforts of customs authorities while highlighting the need for improved customs controls and cooperation, in particular to deal with the rapid growth of e-commerce. Imported products, including those purchased online, unfortunately do not always comply with EU rules regarding safety, […]
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Combating crime in the digital age: from the physical world to cyberspace
With European Union citizens spending up to half of their waking hours online, criminals are increasingly abusing this domain. Criminal actors exploit the existing digital infrastructure to its fullest, leveraging technology and online systems to facilitate illegal activities while evading law enforcement. To prevent online communities from becoming lawless spaces, police forces will have to […]
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