A “super cartel” of drug traffickers, controlling about one-third of Europe’s cocaine market, has been taken down.
Europol, the European Union’s crime agency, announced Monday that 49 suspects had been arrested. Over 66,000 pounds of drugs were seized in Operation Desert Light, which involves law enforcement authorities from Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
“Between 8–19 November, coordinated raids were carried out across Europe and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), targeting both the command-and-control center [in Dubai] and the logistical drugs trafficking infrastructure in Europe,” according to a press release from Europol.
Europol explained, “The drug pins considered as high-value targets by Europol had come together to form what was known as a ‘super cartel’ which controlled around one-third of the cocaine trade in Europe.”
“These arrests are the culmination of parallel investigations run in Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UAE with the support of Europol into the activities of this prolific criminal network involved in large-scale drugs trafficking and money laundering,” said Europol.
“The scale of cocaine importation into Europe under the suspects’ control and command was massive, and over 30 tonnes [66,138 pounds] of drugs were seized by law enforcement over the course of the investigations.”
In Europe, the Spanish Civil Guard arrested 13 suspects, while the French National Police made six arrests. Belgian authorities made 10 arrests, and the Netherlands’ National Criminal Investigations Division made 14 arrests.
In Dubai, Spanish, French, and Dutch forces arrested two high-value targets each.
“This coordinated clampdown sends a strong message to criminals seeking sanctuary from law enforcement,” Europol said. “This unique approach to international police cooperation has positioned Europol as the place where crucial intelligence emerges with law enforcement from countries across the world working side by side to fight the most dangerous criminal networks.”