Massive transnational police "action day" on "facilitated illegal immigration", drugs, human trafficking, fraud

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EU police agency Europol has been working hard to publicise the results of a recent "joint action day" that involved 52 national law enforcement agencies and four international organisations cooperating with Europol to "deliver a major blow to organised crime groups operating across the European Union and beyond. Cooperation with partners from the private sector was also key to this successful operation."

 

According the agency's press release: Global operation Ciconia Alba delivers major blow to organised crime (pdf) there were:

  • 314 suspects arrested, of which 193 in relation to cybercrime, 72 for trafficking in human beings, 31 for facilitation of illegal immigration and 18 for drugs trafficking;
  • 529 human trafficking victims identified;
  • 745 migrants intercepted;
  • 2.38 tonnes of cocaine seized;
  • EUR 181 550 seized;
  • 541 423 entities (individuals and vehicles) checked;

Other press releases from the agency have highlighted operations targeting airline fraudcocaine trafficking and trafficking in human beings (pdfs).

Some background information on Europol's "joint action days", including on operation Ciconia Alba:

NOTE from: Europol to: JHA Counsellors/COSI Support Group: Preliminary evaluation of the Joint Action Days 2016 and strategic discussion on the planning of the Joint Action Days 2017 (12027/16, LIMITE, pdf)

And agreement on what exactly a joint action day is, following some dispute amongst the Member States within the Council:

NOTE from: General Secretariat of the Council to: Delegations: Definition of Joint Action Days (JADs) (8127/16, LIMITE, pdf)

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