As part of a case coordinated by Europol and Interpol, financial institutions and authorities across Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have foiled an attempt to cheat health authorities out of millions of euros by selling them non-existent…
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Major investment fraud gang busted in Bulgaria and Serbia
A large criminal network involved in fraud, money laundering and social engineering was dismantled in an international investigation. Europol and Eurojust supported the investigation which involved law enforcement and judicial authorities from Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and Serbia. Advertise on…
Corona crimes: Suspect behind €6 million face masks and hand sanitisers scam arrested thanks to international police cooperation
This person was usurping the identity of a legitimate company and advertised the fast delivery of FFP2 surgical masks and hand sanitisers. A European Member State reported to Europol that one of their pharmaceutical companies had been defrauded of €6.64…
Major investment fraud gang busted in Bulgaria and Serbia
A large criminal network involved in fraud, money laundering and social engineering was dismantled in an international investigation. Europol and Eurojust supported the investigation which involved law enforcement and judicial authorities from Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and Serbia. Advertise on…
Corona crimes: Suspect behind €6 million face masks and hand sanitisers scam arrested thanks to Europol intervention
This person was usurping the identity of a legitimate company and advertised the fast delivery of FFP2 surgical masks and hand sanitisers. A European Member State reported to Europol that one of their pharmaceutical companies had been defrauded of €6.64…
Catching the virus
During the COVID-19 pandemic, criminals have been quick to seize opportunities to exploit the crisis by adapting their modi operandi and engaging in new criminal activities. Cybercriminals have been among the most adept at exploiting the pandemic. The threat from…
90 suspects identified in major online child sexual abuse operation
This case was sparked by the Belgian East Flanders Federal Judicial Police (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie Oost-Vlaanderen) after more than 9 million pictures and videos of the abuse of thousands of children from around the world were found there during a…
90 suspects identified in major online child sexual abuse operation
This case was sparked by the Belgian East Flanders Federal Judicial Police (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie Oost-Vlaanderen) after more than 9 million pictures and videos of the abuse of thousands of children from around the world were found there during a…
How criminals profit from the COVID-19 pandemic
During this unprecedented crisis, governments across Europe are intensifying their efforts to combat the global spread of the coronavirus by enacting various measures to support public health systems, safeguard the economy and to ensure public order and safety. During this…
Rise of fake ‘corona cures’ revealed in global counterfeit medicine operation
Europol has supported a global operation to target trafficking counterfeit medicines. Operation Pangea, coordinated by INTERPOL and involved 90 countries worldwide, took place between 3 and 10 March 2020. Advertise on IT Security News. Read the complete article: Rise…
COVID-19 joint statement
The coronavirus outbreak has spurred widespread anxiety and forced many people to work from home. Malign actors are actively exploiting these new challenging circumstances to target remote workers, businesses and individuals alike. Advertise on IT Security News. Read the…
Large-scale heroin shipments from the Middle East: 2.4 tonnes of heroin seized and two high value criminal targets arrested
Police in the Netherlands, Poland and Turkey carried out the transnational joint investigation Operation Horizoncity in the beginning of March. Europol coordinated and supported the investigations over the last two years. In addition, Belgium and Germany cooperated actively. Operation Horizoncity…
Spain and Portugal take illegal ivory off the black market
The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) and the Portuguese Civil Guard (Guardia Nacional Republicana) have broken up a criminal network trafficking ivory online. The investigation led to the seizure of 355 ivory figurines and 2 tusks in Spain and Portugal,…
COVID – 19 Update
Given the decision of the Dutch Government on 12 March that the work force in the Netherlands should work from home as much as possible, Europol’s Executive Director and the Crisis Management Team (CMT) have decided to implement telework from…
The SIM highjackers: how criminals are stealing millions by highjacking phone numbers
It is a common story: the signal bars disappears from their mobile phones, they call the phone number – it rings, but it’s not their phone ringing. They try to login to their bank account, but the password fails. They…
The SIM hijackers: how criminals are stealing millions by highjacking phone numbers
It is a common story: the signal bars disappears from their mobile phones, they call the phone number – it rings, but it’s not their phone ringing. They try to login to their bank account, but the password fails. They…
The SIM hiqhjackers: how criminals are stealing millions by highjacking phone numbers
It is a common story: the signal bars disappears from their mobile phones, they call the phone number – it rings, but it’s not their phone ringing. They try to login to their bank account, but the password fails. They…
Dark web child abuse: Administrator of DarkScandals arrested in the Netherlands
Website taken down and splash paged published by the Dutch Police and US Authorities. The site had more than 2,000 videos and images and advertised that it offered “real blackmail, rape and forced videos of girls all around the world.”…
6 arrested and scores of weapons seized in raids across Slovakia
With the active support of Europol, the Slovak National Crime Agency (Národná Kriminálna Agentúra) has seized hundreds of illegal guns and ammunition, including decommissioned guns that had been restored to their full operation, as part of the Operational Taskforce LYNA.…
Balkan cocaine cartel taken down in Montenegro
A large Balkan criminal network trafficking drugs, mainly cocaine, from source countries to Europe has been dismantled in a large international operation. This hit has severely disrupted/cut one of the smuggling routes from Central America to Europe. This complex international…
Fake love: devious men luring young women into prostitution busted in Spain and Romania
A large network exploiting young Romanian women was dismantled in Spain, Romania and the Czech Republic in a priority operation supported by Europol. The investigation involved law enforcement authorities from the Czech Republic, Romania, Spain and other European countries. The…
68 arrested for €10 million ‘fast and furious’ – style heists on moving lorries
An unprecedented law enforcement operation involving 5 countries has resulted in the takedown of one of the most active networks of cargo thieves operating across Europe. Composed of over 100 members, this organised crime group is believed to have committed…
€7.9 million of illegal products seized in a hit against medicine traffickers
Europol supported a pan-European operation targeting the illicit online and offline trafficking of misused and counterfeit medicines. The operation, led by the French National Gendarmerie (Central Office against Environmental and Public Health Crime – OCLAESP) and the Finnish Customs (Tulli),…
42 Rolex thieves who stole over €1 million in jewellery arrested in Spain and Romania
On 18 February, hundreds of police officers from the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) and the Romanian National Police (Poliția Română), with the support of Europol and Eurojust, swooped on a network of Romanian thieves snatching expensive jewellery off elderly…
6 arrested in Germany for smuggling over a hundred Vietnamese migrants to Europe
A key Vietnamese migrant smuggling network was broken up today after the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei), with the support of Europol, targeted suspects across the country, arresting 6 individuals. It is estimated that this criminal network facilitated the entry into…
Network defrauding at least €5 million dismantled in Portugal
On 26 and 27 February, the Fiscal Action Unit of the Portuguese National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana) under the direction of the Central Public Prosecutor’s Office carried out operation Netto Price which aimed to dismantle a transnational network obtaining…
Mexico and Europol begin consultations to strengthen cooperation on security and illicit flow of arms, ammunition and explosives
The Mexican Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Europol are in talks to expand and deepen collaboration on security matters. Mexico was recently included in the list of priority partners with which…
Sham marriages in Europe: Ring leader arrested in Germany
A cross-border criminal investigation into Indian nationals entering into bogus marriages for immigration purposes has led to the arrest on 26 February in Germany of the ringleader of the network. Advertise on IT Security News. Read the complete article:…
New initiative brings together law enforcement and Europe’s largest financial infrastructures
Europol has joined forces with the European Central Bank and a group of Europe’s largest and most important financial infrastructures to share vital cybersecurity threat information to help protect European citizens’ savings against cybercriminals. Advertise on IT Security News.…
Corrupted football officials cornered in Spain
Since 2018, the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) has been investigating two football agents linked to one of the most relevant player representation agencies in Europe. They are suspected of money laundering and tax evasion. The operation, supported by Europol…
Corrupted football officials cornered in Spain
Since 2018, the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) has been investigating two football agents linked to one of the most relevant player representation agencies in Europe. They are suspected of money laundering and tax evasion. The operation, supported by Europol…
Four metres underground: illegal cigarette factory uncovered in a bunker in Spain
On 13 and 14 February 2020, the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) dismantled an organised crime group involved in illegal cigarette manufacturing and drug trafficking. Advertise on IT Security News. Read the complete article: Four metres underground: illegal cigarette…
Second staff exchange between EU cybersecurity organisations
After a successful first edition at Europol in June 2019, the second staff exchange initiative between the four parties to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – the European Defence Agency (EDA), CERT-EU, the EU Cybersecurity Agency (ENISA) and Europol’s European…
Metal thieves arrested in France and Romania for great train robbery
A ruthless gang of metal thieves believed to have caused over €1 million of damage to the French national railway company (SNCF) has been dismantled following a series of coordinated actions across Romania on 12 February with the active involvement…
Scammers arrested after evading €7.2 million in tax
Europol supported the Slovak National Criminal Agency (NAKA), the Czech Financial Intelligence Unit (Finanční analytický úřad) and the Financial Administration of the Czech Republic (Finanční správa) to arrest 23 people suspected of tax evasion through employment agencies. Advertise on…
Over 150 children celebrate Safer Internet Day at Europol
Working together with young people is one of the best ways to stop them from falling victim to crimes like sexual extortion and coercion, cyberbullying, grooming and sexting, online fraud, counterfeit goods and identity theft. Protecting new generations in a…
14 arrests in Spain after cocaine found in boxes of A4 paper
Europol supported the Central Narcotics Unit and the Central Money Laundering Unit of regional Catalan police (Mossos D’esquadra) in arresting 14 members of an international criminal organisation trafficking cocaine and laundering money. Eight members of the criminal organisation have been…
42 arrested for trafficking stolen waste from Spain to Asia
The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), supported by Europol and the Spanish Central Prosecutor Unit for Environment and Urbanism (Fiscalía de Medio Ambiente y Urbanismo), cracked down on a large criminal network involved in environmental crime and money laundering. …
25 arrests in series of police actions against an Albanian drug trafficking gang
Today, 25 suspects tied to an Albanian-speaking organised crime network were arrested during a simultaneous operation carried out in Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and France which saw the involvement of over 600 police officers on the ground. Advertise…
Huge hit to illegal IPTV distributors in Bulgaria
Europol supported a massive crackdown on illegal IPTV distributors in an operation executed by the Cybercrime Unit of the Bulgarian General Directorate Combating Organised Crime (Главна Дирекция Борба с Организираната Престъпност) of the Ministry of Interior and led by the…
Blow to fuel fraudsters: 59 arrests in Europe
Law enforcement authorities from 23 EU Member States struck a blow at organised crime groups involved in fuel fraud by arresting 59 individuals in a year-long operation. The joint operation was supported by Europol as part of the European multidisciplinary…
Eight arrested for smuggling migrants from Greece to Italy
On 2 February 2020, a law enforcement operation supported by Europol saw the arrest of eight individuals suspected of smuggling migrants from Greece to Italy using sailing vessels. Operation Odyssey led by the Organised Crime Unit of the Hellenic Police…
Spanish police arrest 26 for smuggling migrants from Algeria and Morocco
On 19 November 2019, the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) dismantled an organised criminal group specialised in migrant smuggling using speedboats from Algeria and Morocco to Europe. The operation, which was supported by Europol, led to 26 arrests for facilitating…
Fake investors busted in Belgium and France
The French National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) in collaboration with the Belgian Federal Judicial Police (Police Judiciaire Fédérale) and the Israeli Police, supported by Europol and Eurojust, have brought down a large network of investment fraudsters. The criminal group was involved…
Fake investors busted in Belgium and France
The French National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) in collaboration with the Belgian Federal Judicial Police (Police Judiciaire Fédérale) and the Israeli Police, supported by Europol and Eurojust, have brought down a large network of investment fraudsters. The criminal group was involved…
Romanian kingpin of rare book thieves behind bars thanks to Italy
A 40-year-old Romanian national, who was wanted by the British authorities since June 2019, was arrested earlier this month in Turin, Italy, by the Italian Carabinieri (Arma dei Carabinieri -Comando Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale). Advertise on IT Security News.…
How to catch bad guys with the help of data – the right way.
During my career, data and data protection has always been an important part of police work, however, since I was assigned as the Executive Director of Europol, data protection started to play an even more important role in my job.…
16 members of the United Tribuns Nomads street gang arrested in Spain
The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) in cooperation with the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt) and supported by Europol arrested 16 individuals of this violent street gang for trafficking drugs in Spain. The investigation began when the police officers…
Here’s how international collaboration led to arrest of child sexual abuser in Portugal.
Today the Portuguese Judicial Police hosted a media event to show how international cooperation led to the arrest of two men who sexually abused children. The event, hosted at the Portuguese Judicial Police Headquarters in Lisbon included Europol, INTERPOL and…
Cocaine caravans immobilised: 12 arrests in big bust against drug traffickers in the Canary Islands
A large-scale drug trafficking organisation linked to Colombian and Peruvian cartels was dismantled in Spain and Colombia in an international law enforcement operation. Europol supported the two-year-long investigation, led by the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) in close collaboration with…
23 arrests in France and the Netherlands as Iraqi-Kurdish smuggling network busted
The French Border Guard together with the French National Police (Police nationale) and the Dutch Royal Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee), supported by Europol and Eurojust, dismantled a large criminal network involved in migrant smuggling. Advertise on IT Security News. Read…
How to Connect the Dots in Davos
The most dangerous phrase in business is “we’ve always done it this way.” Creative thinkers in the past have always changed the world with their fresh and innovative thoughts. People like Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein connected…
48 arrests and 6 organised crime groups dismantled in medicine-trafficking operation
Europol supported a pan-European operation targeting the illicit online and offline trafficking of misused and counterfeit medicines. The operation was led by Finnish Customs (Tulli) and the Central office against environmental and public health crime of the French National Gendarmerie…
15 arrested in Spain in inedible horsemeat scam
The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), supported by Europol, has dismantled an organised crime group selling horsemeat which was deemed unsuitable for human consumption. The criminal organisation – active in the province of Barcelona – falsified documents to support their…
Sham partnerships for permits: 30 arrested in Spain
On 10 December 2019, the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), supported by Europol, dismantled an organised crime group involved in the facilitation of illegal immigration by arranging sham unmarried partnerships in Spain. The partnerships of convenience were set up to…
Fuel fraudsters busted for trafficking over 300 000 litres of illicit fuel
Europol supported an international operation led by the Criminal Office of the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic (Finančná správa Slovenskej republiky) in cooperation with Polish Customs (Służba Celna). The operation began in 2019 with surveillance as part of an…
Board Meeting of the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce
Today, the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT), an international initiative to tackle the most pressing threats of cybercrime, met within the framework of its Board in Rome, Italy, to discuss operational and strategic matters for the year ahead. Advertise…
47 arrests for smuggling Moroccan citizens to the EU
The British Royal Gibraltar Regiment and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) supported by Europol, dismantled an organised criminal group smuggling migrants from Morocco to Europe. The operation led to 47 arrests, house searches in Gibraltar and Spain and the…