Europol, the European Union's criminal intelligence agency that operates as an intelligence coordination organization, announced this morning (Monday) that it assisted in the capture and dismantling of a "super-cartel" that operated from the United Arab Emirates, and apparently controlled a third of the cocaine trade in Europe.
Authorities from 11 countries worked together for two years on an extensive operation called "Desert Lights", which targeted one of the most dangerous criminal networks in Europe, according to Europol and Eurojust, the European Union's judicial arm.
"Several criminal organizations worked together and were involved in extensive criminal activity, including drug trafficking, in and outside the European Union," the agencies said in a joint statement.
On Tuesday, about a hundred searches were conducted across Europe in order to capture the leaders of the organizations and their colleagues.
In France, nine people were arrested, including a Russian and a Lithuanian in their fifties who live on the French Riviera.
Both are suspected of being decision makers in the cocaine trade activity to Russia, according to a source in the judicial system and a source in the police.
An arrest warrant was issued for two.
30 kg of drugs were seized by the authorities
Suspects caught in the operation (photo: screenshot, official website)
Drugs confiscated in the operation (photo: screenshot, official website)
A preliminary investigation by the French authorities was opened in 2021, followed by an investigation by the judicial system in January 2022 for drug trafficking and drug importation in an organized framework, criminal conspiracy and money laundering, the prosecutor's office in Paris said.
The investigation was conducted by Ofast, the office dedicated to combating drug trafficking in France.
A total of 49 people were arrested.
Seven suspects were arrested in France - three men and four women - but have been released without charge for now.
They are suspected of money laundering.
The seven are apparently colleagues of the Russian and Lithuanian suspects.
In France, luxury goods worth more than 500,000 euros were also confiscated, as well as real estate.
The network, which is linked to large drug trafficking organizations that operate outside the European Union, operated in Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Poland, France, Germany and Slovakia.
Large amounts of cocaine, hashish, methamphetamines and cannabis were also confiscated in the operation.
"These criminals quickly adapt to any new drug and new trade methods to evade law enforcement," the European agencies said.
Drug shipments were found in ships and trucks, well hidden.
According to Europol, the network was structured like a business, with different groups and middlemen from different countries working together to control the drug trade chain - from organizing huge shipments to distribution in Europe and beyond.
The cooperation between the various European countries and agencies made the operation and the "capture of the entire network" possible.
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