Dismantling of a drug trafficking network operating throughout Europe | Eurojust

The drugs used for the group's illegal activities were supplied by members in Spain. The drugs were then transported across Europe by couriers, who concealed the stocks in trucks belonging to the organization. Members based in Italy, Belgium, Germany, Spain and Ukraine then sold the drugs in their local markets.

Drug trafficking remains one of the most serious threats to security in Europe. Europol’s Criminal Networks Report shows that 50% of the most threatening criminal networks operating in the EU are involved in drug trafficking and that 50% of all homicides in Europe are directly linked to drug trafficking. It is essential that judicial authorities from different countries collaborate in their investigations, as drug trafficking frequently crosses borders. Eurojust has observed a doubling of cross-border drug trafficking cases since 2020, with more than 2,462 cases handled in 2023.

Italian authorities opened investigations into the drug trafficking network in December 2021. Investigations revealed that the group, made up of individuals of various nationalities, operated across Europe. To ensure that the group could not evade justice, Italian authorities used Eurojust facilities to facilitate investigations in other countries and carry out searches and seizures.

At a Eurojust coordination centre early in the morning of 2 July, authorities from Italy, Belgium, Germany, Spain and Ukraine worked with Europol and Interpol to arrest 13 suspects. During the searches, several electronic devices, drugs and money were discovered.

The operation was financially supported by the @ON network, funded by the European Commission and led by the Italian Anti-Mafia Directorate (DIA).

The actions were carried out by the following authorities:

• Italy:Public Prosecutors' Office of L'Aquila and Teramo; Special Operational Group of the Carabinieri of L'Aquila
• Belgium:PPO Mons; Federal Police of Mons
• Germany: Generalstaatsanwaltschaft Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf General Prosecutor's Office); North Rhine-Westphalia State Criminal Police Office (Landeskriminalamt Nordrhein-Westfalen)
• Spain:Central Instruction Court number 6 (Central investigating judge number 6 of the Audiencia Nacional); Anti-Drug Fiscalia at the National Court (Anti-Drug PP at the National Court); OCT Udyco Central Group of the National Police (OCT Udyco Central Group of the National Police)
• Ukraine: Attorney General's Office; National Police Anti-Narcotics Department