WSi News2015-06-29 08:16:40
Europol supports huge international operation to tackle organised crime
More than 500 suspects have been arrested in Operation Blue Amber, a series of international actions which were supported by Europol and took place in 260 locations across the world. Between 4 May and 24 June, law enforcement officers from the 28 EU countries and international partners1 joined forces to take out organised crime groups and their infrastructures.
From the 24/7 Europol operational coordination centre, Europol's specialists, liaison officers and colleagues from international law enforcement partners such as SELEC, TISPOL and PCC-SEE, processed incoming criminal intelligence from the EU Member States and produced real-time reporting to those engaged in interventions and operational activity in the field.
While several locations were raided, other interventions took place in airports, border-crossing points, ports and specific crime hot spots in towns and cities2.
Results from the operational actions include:
• more than 500 suspected criminals arrested
• 2.8 tonnes of cocaine seized
• 390 vehicles confiscated
• nearly 1300 tonnes of stolen metal seized.
Europol officers were also deployed on the spot in various locations, with mobile offices which gave them direct, secure access to Europol's centralised databases and analysis tools.
For example, 2.8 tonnes of cocaine and 110 kg of heroin were seized in actions against drugs trafficking. The known modi operandi of high-volume trafficking via containers, and low-volume trafficking via parcels and couriers, was again confirmed. These actions revealed that drugs couriers fly from South America to Europe with cocaine, and that parcels of heroin are sent from Afghanistan/Pakistan to Western Europe, on a daily basis. The concealment methods vary greatly, from hiding cocaine in clothes and shoe insoles, to caching heroin in medical instruments.
During the actions, thanks to the close cooperation with countries from the Western Balkans, several facilitators were arrested who were smuggling people to Europe. A ‘safe house' for irregular migrants was also discovered in Hungary.
"Once again we have seen that successful international cooperation can have a major impact on organised crime. The outcome in this operation, with over 500 arrests made, is a reminder to criminals that they should not feel safe anywhere. Europol will continue to support national law enforcement agencies with its unique intelligence and technical capabilities," says Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol.
More than 500 suspects have been arrested in Operation Blue Amber, a series of international actions which were supported by Europol and took place in 260 locations across the world. Between 4 May and 24 June, law enforcement officers from the 28 EU countries and international partners1 joined forces to take out organised crime groups and their infrastructures.
From the 24/7 Europol operational coordination centre, Europol's specialists, liaison officers and colleagues from international law enforcement partners such as SELEC, TISPOL and PCC-SEE, processed incoming criminal intelligence from the EU Member States and produced real-time reporting to those engaged in interventions and operational activity in the field.
While several locations were raided, other interventions took place in airports, border-crossing points, ports and specific crime hot spots in towns and cities2.
Results from the operational actions include:
• more than 500 suspected criminals arrested
• 2.8 tonnes of cocaine seized
• 390 vehicles confiscated
• nearly 1300 tonnes of stolen metal seized.
Europol officers were also deployed on the spot in various locations, with mobile offices which gave them direct, secure access to Europol's centralised databases and analysis tools.
For example, 2.8 tonnes of cocaine and 110 kg of heroin were seized in actions against drugs trafficking. The known modi operandi of high-volume trafficking via containers, and low-volume trafficking via parcels and couriers, was again confirmed. These actions revealed that drugs couriers fly from South America to Europe with cocaine, and that parcels of heroin are sent from Afghanistan/Pakistan to Western Europe, on a daily basis. The concealment methods vary greatly, from hiding cocaine in clothes and shoe insoles, to caching heroin in medical instruments.
During the actions, thanks to the close cooperation with countries from the Western Balkans, several facilitators were arrested who were smuggling people to Europe. A ‘safe house' for irregular migrants was also discovered in Hungary.
"Once again we have seen that successful international cooperation can have a major impact on organised crime. The outcome in this operation, with over 500 arrests made, is a reminder to criminals that they should not feel safe anywhere. Europol will continue to support national law enforcement agencies with its unique intelligence and technical capabilities," says Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol.
For more information contact:
