Netherlands Three arrested over ATM explosions that netted gang nearly €1 million They are accused of using stolen vehicles and explosives to attack ATMs during the night to steal money. 19/05/2022
Spain Three German fugitives arrested in Spain over money laundering scheme The suspects had been on the run from German authorities since 2021, Europol said. 05/05/2022
world news Over 100 European suspects identified in online child abuse probe The long-running global investigation into online child abuse images was led by New Zealand. 02/03/2022
world news Dozens arrested in Belgium & Spain in major drug trafficking operation The criminal network is accused of using cargo planes, private jets and shipping containers to smuggle cocaine into Europe. 15/02/2022
world news Europol told to delete personal data not linked to any crime European Data Protection Supervisor, the EU personal data watchdog, said the police agency has continually stored "large volumes" of data regardless of whether it was related to a crime or not. 10/01/2022
Europe News Brussels wants EU police to cooperate better to fight organised crime According to Europol, 80% of gangs are involved in cross-border crimes. 08/12/2021
Europe News Europe's most-wanted fugitives revealed “At the heart of this campaign is justice for the victims." 03/12/2021
Netherlands Scores arrested in one of 'biggest global crackdowns' on dark web Several of those arrested were "high-value targets", Europol said. 26/10/2021
world news Police bust criminal group smuggling Afghan migrants to western Europe The criminals pushed migrants into the back of large lorries while drivers were sleeping, said Europol. 06/10/2021
world news Arrests after raids at EU farms and vineyards over labour exploitation Police raids were carried out at 704 locations in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Spain. 05/10/2021
world news Police bust Balkan cartel’s European ‘cocaine pipeline’ 61 people were arrested as police from eight European countries pounced on a Balkan crime organisation allegedly "flooding Europe with cocaine." 27/09/2021
world news Over 100 arrested in Spain and Italy in major money-laundering sting Spanish and Italian police have arrested 106 people connected to a gang that allegedly laundered money for mafia groups and made millions of euros through online scams. 20/09/2021
Netherlands Netherlands, Belgium main gateways into Europe for cocaine: Europol "The epicentre of the cocaine market in Europe has shifted northwards," the Europol report, drawn up in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said. 07/09/2021
world news Fake wine, diluted honey and horse meat seized in European crackdown Police in 26 EU member states seized 15.4 tonnes of sub-par food and 1.7 million litres of counterfeit booze from alleged criminal gangs. 21/07/2021
Romania Police arrest 13 in crackdown on Romania-Spain sex trafficking gang The criminal network used the so-called 'lover boy' technique to lure victims into being sexually exploited in Spanish nightclubs. 08/07/2021
world news Encrypted messaging app leads to 800 arrests in organised crime groups Police accessed 27 million messages over 18 months using an encrypted messaging app. The evidence led to more than 800 arrests in global sting against organised crime 08/06/2021
Germany Human smuggling ring busted in Germany and Slovakia Vietnamese people were brought to Europe on fraudulent visas, then forced to work in brothels 31/05/2021
Netherlands Dutch police bust hidden cocaine factory after Encrochat investigation Eighty police officers descended on the site in Rotterdam where a gang was also fitting out cars with secret compartments so as to "flood Europe with cocaine". 29/05/2021
Italy Fake euro banknote dealers busted by German and Italian police Officers descended on 19 houses in Naples, Italy and Germany on Thursday and seized fake banknotes amounting to €160,000 as well as a gun and cocaine. 21/05/2021
Italy Mass arrests of suspected mafia members announced in Italy and Germany More than 800 police and tax officers were involved in the fresh raids in Italy and Germany, which saw millions of euros' worth of assets seized and 31 people arrested in connection with 'ndrangheta drug operations. 05/05/2021
Europe News Europe at 'breaking point' over organised crime, says Europol The EU's law enforcement agency released a report on organised crime Monday highlighting the extent of the problem on the continent. 12/04/2021
Spain Police seize drug 'submarine' designed to smuggle narcotics into Spain Similar drug-smuggling vessels have in the past been discovered at sea, especially near Central and South America. 12/03/2021
France Illegal workers from Moldova ‘smuggled into France on fake passports’ "The criminal group, organised by a Romanian national living in France, smuggled at least 40 Moldovan nationals to exploit them in the construction business in France," Europol said. 25/02/2021
world news Arrests in Europe over €82.4m SIM swapping scam targeting celebrities The criminal network is believed to have stolen personal information and more than €82.4m in cryptocurrencies by swapping SIM cards, Europol said. 10/02/2021
Bulgaria Rocky road for gang who used Sylvester Stallone in fake passports scam The Bulgarian crime group had used the Rocky actor's name and picture to advertise their fake passports. 01/02/2021
world news World's 'most dangerous' hacking network Emotet uncovered Police in six European countries were involved in a joint operation to take control of Internet servers used by a malware network known as Emotet. 28/01/2021
