On 17 December, law enforcement conducted raids at 14 properties across Barcelona (4), Madrid (9), and Toledo (1) in Spain, and one property in Zagreb in Croatia. These operations resulted in 30 arrests, among which were the leaders of the criminal network. In addition, EUR 180 000 in cash was also seized, alongside weapons, 70 […]
Advances in security and criminal investigation: get to know the SIRIUS project
Building on six years of successful support to national law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and judicial authorities (JAs) in the field of electronic evidence, Europol and Eurojust launched the third phase of the SIRIUS project in January 2025. 00 Phase 3 of the SIRIUS project will continue to assist LEAs, JAs, and service providers in navigating […]
EUR 2.7 million seized in European operation against money laundering and cash smuggling
From 12 to 24 November, Europol supported Customs authorities from 23 EU Member States in a large operation against money laundering, transnational criminal activities and terrorism financing. The operation resulted in over 500 cash movement checks and the subsequent detection of illicit cash flows of almost EUR 2.7 million in cash. This amount is […]
Spain: 30 arrested in probe into €17 million VAT fraud involving luxury cars
In a probe led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Madrid (Spain), law enforcement authorities have dismantled a transnational criminal network involved in the sale of luxury cars while evading VAT. The estimated damage in Spain alone amounts to €17 million. Thirty individuals were arrested, including the suspected ringleader. Law enforcement agents seized […]
Fighting cross-border crime: Council adopts EU law about transfer of proceedings
The Council has given the final green light to an EU law that regulates the conditions under which proceedings in a criminal case initiated in one member state may be transferred to another member state. The law will be critical in ensuring that the best-placed country investigates or prosecutes a criminal offence. It also prevents […]
European Commission will adopt EU roadmap to step up fight against drug trafficking and criminal networks
The Commission will adopt an EU Roadmap to step up the fight against drug trafficking and criminal networks, building on the legislative and operational initiatives put forward so far. The drugs trade is one of the most significant security threats faced by the EU today. Seizures of cocaine in the EU are hitting record levels, with 303 tonnes […]
Ecuador and the European Union will expand their bilateral cooperation in security and the fight against transnational organised crime
The III Security Roundtable comprehensively addressed the strategic support to confront organised crime from its different aspects: border security, maritime security, cybersecurity, prison security and the preventive axis in terms of drug consumption and trafficking. During the III Technical Roundtable on Security Cooperation between Ecuador and the European Union, it was agreed to broaden and […]
Operations co-funded by the EU lead to 197 arrests in Spain
Europol has supported the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) in 29 investigations, co-funded by EU financial mechanism. The operations, in line with EU priorities against serious and organised crime, targeted a number of criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud and corruption, among other crimes. The 29 criminal investigations, led by Spain and […]
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 […]