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The competent authorities in Italy, Belgium, and Germany have received assistance from Eurojust and Europol as part of a new operation against alleged Ndrangheta-related international drug trafficking. Thirty-one suspects were detained and property worth more than EUR 3.8 million was seized during a joint action day. The ground operations involved over 840 officers.
The investigation was a follow-up to one that Italian authorities conducted against the same criminal network between 2013 and 2018. The suspects allegedly continued to transport primarily cocaine from South America to Germany and Italy via several European ports using the established and well-established network. In order to accomplish this, the organized crime group (OCG) established companies in Germany to aid in the drug smuggling. The OCG used foreign businesses dealing in food and automobiles to cover its drug transports.
31 suspects were detained on June 5 during an action day, with 18 being taken into custody in Italy, 8 in Belgium, and 5 in Germany. 53 searches in total were conducted. Cash, drugs, expensive vehicles, and other assets totaling more than EUR 3.8 million were seized.
According to the Italian authorities' request, Eurojust opened the case in August 2019. In February 2020, the German and Italian governments established a joint investigation team (JIT) with the assistance of Eurojust. Belgian participants were added to the JIT in March 2021. In addition to facilitating the transmission and execution of numerous European Investigation Orders and requests for reciprocal legal assistance, the Agency hosted seven coordination meetings. To facilitate quick communication among the judicial authorities taking part in the action day, a coordination center was established.
In order to assist the domestic investigators, Europol has been continuously developing and analyzing intelligence. Two of Europol's officers were stationed in Belgium and Italy during the operation to help with real-time coordination between all the partners and ensure quick tactical decisions to change the strategy as needed.
The Ndrangheta and the Sicilian mafia are the subject of EMPACT Operational Action 2.3, the first EMPACT initiative led by the National Antimafia Directorate (Direzione Nazionale Antimafia), which Europol and Eurojust are co-leaders of.
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