43 arrests in successful hit against organised crime

02 October 2017

On 25 September 2017, in one of the biggest EU investigations in recent years, led by the Polish Prosecutor’s Office and the Police Central Bureau of Investigation, a coordinated international operation targeting an organised crime group involved in the production and trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as firearms trafficking, tobacco smuggling, luxury vehicle thefts and other offences, has resulted in the arrest of 43 individuals.

Law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities from Germany, the Netherlands and Poland, supported by Europol and Eurojust, carried out a simultaneous action targeting this organised criminal network in their respective countries.

More than 330 police officers executed 75 house searches in Poland. As a result, 43 individuals were arrested, and firearms, substantial quantities of drugs, fake euro banknotes, and cigarettes without excise stamps were seized, among other evidence.

To support the investigations, various coordination meetings were held at Europol and Eurojust prior to the joint action day. On the action day, a coordination centre was set up at Eurojust’s headquarters in The Hague. Europol deployed several experts to the involved countries equipped with mobile offices to assist the operations on the spot.

The suspects are charged with dozens of crimes, including participation in an organised criminal group, production of over 900 kg of amphetamine, intra-community acquisition of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, trafficking of significant quantities of drugs, firearms trafficking, possession of firearms and ammunition without the required authorisation, theft of luxury vehicles, and a number of other criminal offences. One of the suspects is charged with attempted murder.

The prosecutor secured assets valued at PLN 4.5 million, freezing real estate, luxury cars and PLN 500 000 in cash.