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EUROPOL REPORT
Cocaine lords targeted in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands Police (Bundeskriminalamt / BKA), coordinated by Europol, led to the identification and indictment of major European High Value Targets importing large amounts of cocaine from South America to the EU. The operation also involved the Paraguayan National Antidrug Secretariat (SENAD - Secretaria Nacional Antidrogas).
Joint actions of the Belgian Federal Police Antwerp (Federale Politie Antwerpen), the Dutch National Police (Politie) and the German Regional Police (Landeskriminalamt Niedersachsen) and Federal
This operation targeted the European and South American drugs and money-laundering infrastructure of a large scale trafficking network, which had already taken a massive hit in February 2022. Europol facilitated the exchange of information and produced large amounts of intelligence based on criminal analysis, enabling Europol to unveil a detailed picture of the networks’ operations across countries and continents.
Human trafficking gang exploiting South American victims busted in France and Spain The French Border Police (Police National/Police aux frontiers) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), supported by Europol, dismantled a criminal network involved in human trafficking for sexual exploitation. The investigation resulted in a simultaneous action day in France and Spain. French Border Police initiated the investigation in January 2021, although investigators suspect that the network was already active for some time before that.
The members of the criminal network, predominantly of Spanish nationality, exploited mainly Colombian nationals in Spain and in the area around the French city of Nantes. The suspects recruited clients via websites and controlled the accounts advertising the victims. The network transported the illegal profits from France to Spain themselves or by using money mules. The criminals laundered their proceeds through investments in real estate and cash-intensive businesses such as bars and clubs in Spain.
More than 5 million potentially dangerous toys seized in 21 countries Europol coordinated operation Ludus II targeting trafficking of counterfeit toys and other goods. Ludus II, led by the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), Spanish National Police (Policia Nacional) and the Spanish Customs authorities (DAVA) and co-led by the Romanian Police, involved law enforcement authorities from 21 countries in total. The seizures made during the operation include counterfeit and illegal puzzle games, video games and related characters, board and card games, dolls and puppets from famous TV series, bricks for children and clothing and accessories from famous brands. The
Border Security Report | March/April 2022
seized goods contain risks such as chemical exposure, strangulation, choking, electric shock, damage to hearing and fire hazards. During the operational phase of Ludus II, law enforcement authorities performed checks and inspections to detect illegal shipments and storage. A number of raids followed online investigations initiated on e-commerce platforms. The majority of fake toys were imported from East Asia to the EU, UK and US.
