On November 27, over a thousand police officers with the support of Europol carried out coordinated raids against the members of a highly professional criminal syndicate. Some 180 house searches were executed, resulting in the arrest of 45 suspects.
The investigation uncovered that this drug trafficking network was responsible for the annual importation of at least 45 tonnes of cocaine into the main European seaports, with profits exceeding €100 million over the course of six months.
This international sting, led by the Portuguese, Belgian and Brazilian authorities, was carried out simultaneously by agencies from three different continents, with coordination efforts facilitated by Europol.*
Results in brief:
- 45 arrests in Brazil (38), Belgium (4), Spain (1) and Dubai (2)
- 179 house searches
- Over €12 million in cash seized in Portugal, €300 000 in cash seized in Belgium and over R$1 million and US$169 000 in cash seized in Brazil
- 70 luxury vehicles seized in Brazil, Belgium and Spain and 37 aircraft seized in Brazil
- 163 houses seized in Brazil worth in excess of R$132 million, 2 houses seized in Spain worth €4 million, and two apartments seized in Portugal worth €2.5 million
- Financial assets of 10 individuals frozen in Spain
In the framework of intelligence activities underway with its operational counterparts, Europol developed reliable intelligence concerning the international drug trafficking and money laundering activities of a Brazilian organised crime network operating in several EU countries.
The criminal syndicate had direct contact with drug cartels in Brazil and other South American source countries who were responsible for the preparation and the shipments of cocaine in maritime containers bound to major European seaports.
The scale of cocaine importation from Brazil to Europe under their control and command is massive and over 52 tonnes of cocaine were seized by law enforcement over the course of the investigation.
In April 2020, Europol brought together the involved countries who have since been working closely together to establish a joint strategy to bring down the whole network. The main targets were identified on either sides of the Atlantic Ocean, with the support of Operation EMMA 95/ LEMONT 26, the French and Dutch-led investigation against the Encrochat network.
Since then, Europol has provided continuous intelligence development and analysis to support the field investigators. During the action day, eight of its officers were deployed on-the-ground in Portugal, Belgium and Brazil to assist the national authorities, ensuring swift analysis of new data as it was being collected during the action and adjusting the strategy as required.
Commenting on this operation, Europol’s Deputy Director Wil van Gemert said: “This operation highlights the complex structure and vast reach of Brazilian organized crime groups in Europe. The scale of the challenge faced today by police worldwide calls for a coordinated approach to tackle the drug trade across continents. The commitment of our partner countries to work via Europol underpinned the success of this operation and serves as a continued global call to action.”
*Europe: Portuguese Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária), Belgian Federal Judicial Police (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie, Police Judiciaire Fédérale), Spanish National Police (Policia Nacional), Dutch Police (Politie) and the Romanian Police (Poliția Română)
South America: Brazilian Federal Police (Policia Federal)
Middle East: Dubai Police Force and Dubai State Security
Read the announcement at Europol
