From Colombia “for the World”! 11 Arrested in Cocaine Bust for Croatia

The post From Colombia “to the world”! They capture 11 who would be related to cocaine shipments to Croatia appeared first on Minuto30.

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Minuto30.com .- In the last few hours, the European authorities made public the capture of eleven people who would be related to large shipments of cocaine from South America to the European Union. There were at least 18 people involved in the operation.

Cocaine traffickers used different maritime routes and modus operandi and would be related to the seizure of more than half a ton of cocaine, in the port of Ploče, in southern Croatia, at the end of March 2021, valued at 50 million euros .

The drugs were hidden in the floor of a modified cargo container. This seizure is further indication that international drug trafficking organizations are increasingly targeting the EU’s smaller ports.

One million euros in cash and 18 people investigated

On November 26, 2024, law enforcement authorities detained 11 suspects (2 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1 in Croatia and 8 in Serbia); one of them would be a ringleader of the gang. During the house searches, the agents seized weapons and a large amount of ammunition, as well as several high-value vehicles, watches and more than one million euros in cash. Four other people investigated for belonging to this network are already in prison. Three more have been issued with international arrest warrants.

The criminal network bribed several corrupt customs officials to avoid police and customs controls during the logistical phase of the export; one of them was arrested during the operation.

Photo: Europol

The other detainees were members of the criminal network who performed different functions in the organization. Some of them ran different criminal cells, while others financed the activities or coordinated and organized the logistics.

A high-value target detained in Serbia was already wanted by an EU Member State, as he was involved in the theft of one million euros as part of the famous Pink Panther criminal group. Both the robbery and his escape from prison after his conviction date back to the early 2000s.

Intelligence news after the dismantling of Sky ECC

This investigation is a continuation of a previous operation against a connected criminal network. These cross-border operations are the result of intelligence developments following the March 2021 dismantling of the Sky ECC encrypted communications platform.

In cooperation with France, Belgium and the Netherlands, and with the support of Europol’s Drugs Unit, Serbia was able to identify key targets on its territory and map its criminal activities around the world. This criminal organization is presumed to be linked to a large-scale criminal network that imports multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Colombia through Brazil and Ecuador.

Europol Operational Working Group

The recent takedown of three encrypted communication tools used by criminals (EncroChat, Sky ECC and Anom) revealed the prevalence of Balkan criminals in the global cocaine trade and related organized criminal activities.

Photo: Europol

Europol responded to this threat by creating an operational task force, made up of countries inside and outside the EU, to effectively combat the threat emanating from criminal networks with links to this region. This operation is the result of joint work between authorities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia that is underway…

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The post From Colombia “to the world”! They capture 11 who would be related to cocaine shipments to Croatia appeared first on Minuto30.

2024-12-04 01:28:00
#Colombia #world #capture #related #cocaine #shipments #Croatia

How did international cooperation play a role in ​dismantling ⁤this cocaine trafficking network?

## Busting ‌a Cocaine Pipeline: Interview with Europol Agent

**Host:** Welcome back to the program. Today we’re discussing a major blow dealt to a cocaine trafficking ring operating across Europe. Joining us is Detective [Guest Name], an agent with Europol, who has been instrumental in this⁤ investigation. Detective, thanks for being here.

**Detective [Guest Name]:** Thanks for having me.

**Host:** Can you tell us more about this operation?

**Detective [Guest Name]:** Certainly. This operation has been ​years in the making, targeting a sophisticated ⁣network responsible for smuggling large quantities​ of ‌cocaine from South America into the EU, primarily through smaller ports. The recent arrests of eleven individuals, ⁣including the suspected ringleader, are the ⁢culmination of a multi-national effort involving agencies from Bosnia and ​Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and numerous EU member states.

**Host:** The ⁤news reports ⁢mentioned a ​ massive cocaine seizure in Croatia back in 2021. Is this connected to this particular network?

**Detective [Guest Name]:** Yes, that seizure of over half‍ a ton of cocaine, with an estimated street value of 50 million⁢ euros, was a significant breakthrough. It confirmed our suspicions about this network’s modus​ operandi and provided crucial evidence for building our case.‍

**Host:** How exactly⁤ were they getting the drugs into the EU?

**Detective [Guest Name]:**‌ They were incredibly resourceful, employing different maritime‍ routes and modifying cargo containers to conceal ⁢the cocaine within the flooring. This demonstrates their sophistication and understanding of logistical‌ vulnerabilities.

**Host:** We’ve also heard about corrupt officials aiding this operation. Is that right?

**Detective [Guest Name]:** Unfortunately yes. The criminal network had infiltrated​ several ‌customs offices, bribing officials to bypass security checks. That’s why international cooperation is so vital in these cases.

**Host:** What message does this send to other organized crime‌ groups involved in​ drug trafficking?

**Detective [Guest Name]:** ‌It sends⁤ a clear message‌ that we are united in our fight ⁢against transnational crime. We will​ use all available resources and collaboration⁢ to ⁣dismantle these networks, no matter ⁢how complex their operations.

**Host:** Detective [Guest Name], thank you for shedding light on this crucial operation. Your dedication and collaboration ​with international partners are instrumental in protecting our communities from the devastating impact of drug trafficking.