Poly-drug trafficking network broken up

An international organised crime network, responsible for large-scale drug trafficking in the European Union, has been broken up following an extensive operation by European police and customs authorities. The operation has resulted in the arrest of the three key members of the criminal network and the seizure of 25 kg of cocaine. 

The large criminal network were active since 2009, when the group of suspects was linked to synthetic drugs production in the Netherlands, the import of cocaine from South America, and large scale poly-drug trafficking within the European Union and beyond (e.g. to the Russian Federation). In January 2009, in cooperation with 15 countries, Europol launched the long-term operation and started providing online analytical support, coordination and operational analysis of high-level intelligence. By the end of 2010 some major suspects from the international organised criminal group were arrested and later on sentenced to imprisonment. However, several other key players remained free due to insufficient evidence.

Hungarian law enforcement authorities began a new investigation at the start of 2013, with the support of Europol, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany and Slovakia. Once enquiries confirmed than an international criminal network was involved, a coordinated operation was launched with the relevant European law enforcement and judicial agencies working together.

During the operational phase of the investigation it was established that the group used fake businesses as fronts to smuggle cocaine from Panama, hidden among vehicle parts in false-bottomed crates. The crates were transported as part of ‘less-than-container loads’ (LCLs) - shipments that were not large enough themselves to fill a standard cargo container. The final destination of the cocaine was Hungary.  On receiving reliable intelligence, a coordinated border operation was carried out between Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. On 15 January 2014, the suspects were arrested after receiving 23 packages of cocaine. Europol assisted the operation with the exchange of criminal intelligence and operational analysis.