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 […]
Two-way migrant smuggling network busted in France and Spain
Europol supported the French National Police (Police Nationale/OLTIM Perpignan) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional/UCRIF Central) in dismantling an organised criminal network smuggling migrants of Algerian and Moroccan origin from Spain to France as well as in the opposite direction, from the United Kingdom to Spain. In addition to the arrests made in Spain […]
Crypto fraud ring in Spain scammed 5,000 victims worldwide
On 25 June 2025, the Spanish Guardia Civil, with the support of Europol and law enforcement from Estonia, France and the United States of America, arrested five members of a criminal network engaged in cryptocurrency investment fraud. The investigation identified that the perpetrators had laundered EUR 460 million in illicit profits stolen through crypto investment […]
50 arrested and 4 tonnes of cocaine seized in major anti-drug operation in Spain
Almost 50 suspects have been arrested in a large-scale operation supported by Europol against the largest criminal network operating in the Canary Islands (Spain). The investigation was led by Spanish authorities and also involved law enforcement from Portugal, Colombia, UK and USA. Results of the operation: 48 suspects arrested 3.8 tonnes of cocaine seized 29 […]
Encrypted app reveals criminal networks across Europe
Law enforcement authorities across Europe and Türkiye have dismantled four major criminal networks responsible for fuelling the flow of drugs into the EU and Türkiye, following a series of coordinated raids supported by Europol. These results were made possible by the continued exploitation of encrypted communication platforms, including Sky ECC and ANOM, which remain powerful […]
12 members of an Irish high-risk criminal network arrested
This week, Irish and Spanish law enforcement authorities took decisive action against one of Ireland’s high-risk criminal networks. In a coordinated series of raids in both countries, An Garda Síochána and Guardia Civil officers arrested 12 suspects (6 in Ireland and 6 in Spain). The criminals are suspected of involvement in large-scale drug trafficking, mainly […]
Network smuggling migrants between Spain and France busted in Marseille
Europol supported the French National Police (Police Nationale/OLTIM) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) in dismantling an organised criminal network smuggling migrants from Spain to France. The investigation was initiated in November 2022 and targeted individuals, based in Marseille, suspected of smuggling migrants between Spain and France. Europol’s analysis of the operational data made […]
Eurojust: Criminal network that stole 170 historical books worth 2.5 million euros across Europe dismantled
Eurojust and Europol have supported the competent authorities in Lithuania, France, Latvia, Poland, Switzerland and Georgia in an international operation against an organised crime group (OCG) that allegedly stole 170 books of high historical and cultural value across several European countries. The stolen books have an estimated value of EUR 2.5 million and were written […]
78 involved in large-scale cannabis trafficking arrested in Spain and Italy
The criminal network is linked to more than six tonnes of intercepted shipments of cannabis and hashish. Europol supported the Italian Financial Guard (Guardia di Finanza) and Spanish Regional Catalan Police (Mossos d’Esquadra) in dismantling a large criminal network behind several tonnes of cannabis being trafficked to the EU. The investigation, also supported by Eurojust, […]