The Belgian Federal Police and Europol, the European law enforcement agency, held a joint operational meeting this morning with more than 50 counter terrorism experts and investigators from 30 countries, Eurojust and INTERPOL. The main purpose of this operational meeting in Brussels was to explore the international dimensions of the current investigations into the terrorist attacks in Belgium and to support follow up enquiries in other countries. Information about the modus operandi of these attacks was exchanged and discussed in detail.
Belgian investigative authorities initiated the call for this operational meeting with all relevant partners. Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) co-organised the meeting and facilitated attendance by member countries from its dedicated pan-European project on foreign fighters. Belgium is one of the three countries that shares the most information with Focal Point (FP) Travellers, a specialist team that coordinates EU Member States’ investigations into, and data analysis on, foreign terrorist fighters. Catherine De Bolle, Commissioner General of the Belgian Federal Police emphasised the importance of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and the coordinating role of Europol.
Europol is firmly committed to supporting Belgium and other Member States in the ongoing investigations, in line with the significant assistance it provided to the French and Belgian authorities in the wake of the attacks in Paris last November. Europol officers are currently seconded to the operational centre in Brussels to channel the maximum possible assistance to the investigations. Europol’s support involves extensive analysis of information and cross-checking of data in all available databases and the provision of specialist services in regard to terrorist financing and radicalised activity online. Through this activity, and the new functions of the European Counter Terrorism Centre especially, Europol offers a unique operational platform to help Belgian and other national authorities coordinate an effective international response to the current terrorist threat. “For many years Europol has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the Belgian Federal Police and other authorities. We are intent on providing the best possible support to help these and other national authorities investigate the terrible attacks in Brussels and to coordinate an effective pan-European response to what is the most significant terrorist threat faced by Europe in over 10 years. Today’s meeting of European and other authorities is an important part of that response and will strengthen our common capabilities to fight the terrorist networks involved ,” says Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol.
2016 EU Drug Markets Report from the EMCDDA and Europol
Illicit drugs are big business. They are one of the main profit-generating activities of organised crime and are estimated to represent around one-fifth of global crime proceeds. The negative impacts of illicit drug markets are multifaceted and far-reaching, which is why they remain a key threat to the security of the European Union and the safety of its citizens.
Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS), two EU agencies — Europol and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) — will release their latest state-of-the-art report on the EU drug market, providing a detailed analysis of this important policy-relevant field.
The 2016 EU Drug Markets Report — In-depth Analysis will be launched at a press conference in Brussels on 5 April by Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship. The Commissioner will be joined by Europol Director Rob Wainwright and EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel.
IRAQI MONEY LAUNDERING SYNDICATE BASED IN GERMANY DISMANTLED WITH SUPPORT EUROPOL AND EUROJUST
31 March 2016
On 16 March 2016, judicial and law enforcement authorities from Germany, supported on-the-spot by Europol experts, took action against an Iraqi organised crime group based in Germany suspected of performing money laundering services for international heroin traffickers. The operation was preceded by extensive and complex criminal investigations supported by Europol, which coordinated the law enforcement authorities in France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, mirrored by Eurojust’s coordination of the judicial authorities.
SECOND STRATEGIC MEETING ON PAYMENT CARD FRAUD
30 March 2016
On 22-23 March 2016 Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) and ASEANAPOL, with the cooperation of INTERPOL and the support of the Romanian National Police and the Royal Malaysian Police, organised the Second Strategic Meeting on Payment Card Fraud (PCF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
LARGEST-EVER SEIZURES OF FAKE FOOD AND DRINK IN INTERPOL-EUROPOL OPERATION
30 March 2016
More than 10,000 tonnes and one million litres of hazardous fake food and drink have been seized in operations across 57 countries in an INTERPOL-Europol coordinated initiative to protect public health and safety.
Operation Opson V, resulted in seizures ranging from nearly nine tonnes of counterfeit sugar contaminated with fertilizer in Khartoum, Sudan to Italian officers recovering more than 85 tonnes of olives which had been ‘painted’ with copper sulphate solutions to enhance their colour.
EUROPOL CONDEMNS ATTACKS IN BELGIUM
22 March 2016
Europol condemns in the most categorical terms the heinous attacks carried out this morning in Brussels and extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre has offered its full assistance to the Belgian authorities which includes making available Europol’s unique intelligence tools and databases dedicated to combating various terrorist threat.
TURKEY AND EUROPOL SIGN LIAISON AGREEMENT
21 March 2016
The Deputy Director of the Turkish National Police, Mr Basturk, and Europol’s Deputy Director Mr Martinu today signed the Liaison Agreement between Turkey and Europol. Deputy Director Martinu expressed his satisfaction with the possibilities this will offer to enhance cooperation with Turkish law enforcement.
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