Brazilian police arrested three people on Wednesday, 11 February, during an operation targeting international networks…
Tag: international crime
Greek and German police dismantled a cocaine smuggling ring operating across Europe, arresting five suspects and seizing over 300 kg of cocaine hidden in trucks from Spain. The gang, linked to Greek and Bulgarian nationals, earned over €5 million.
Five Turkish nationals accused of drug trafficking and weapons possession have been jailed in Greece. The suspects deny the charges, claiming they are legitimate businessmen with Golden Visas and political asylum as Gülenists. Authorities allege links to broader criminal activities, including arms trafficking and migrant smuggling.
In a dramatic takedown at Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, Greek police arrested two men, aged 31 and 32, on March 18, 2025, uncovering a suitcase packed with over 11,000 pharmaceutical tablets and 3,000 narcotic pills. The suspects, believed to be part of an international drug ring, were caught in a sting operation as one awaited the other outside the terminal, exposing a sophisticated smuggling plot targeting Greece.
A Melbourne woman has been sentenced to 16 years in prison in Taiwan for smuggling 7kg of cocaine and heroin. Debbie Voulgaris, 58, maintains her innocence, claiming she was tricked by her ex-husband. Her family is fighting for her release, arguing she was manipulated and unknowingly transported the drugs. The case highlights the harsh penalties for drug offenses in Taiwan and the devastating impact on families.
Greek authorities arrested a woman at Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos Airport for attempting to smuggle 26.4 kg of skunk cannabis into the country. The suspect, linked to an international drug trafficking network, was caught with the illegal substances hidden in her luggage. Police seized the drugs, cash, and a mobile phone, while investigations continue into the broader criminal operation.
Priceless Romanian treasures, including the iconic Golden Helmet of Coțofenești, have been stolen from the Droner Museum in Assen, Netherlands. This daring heist has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the security of loaned artifacts in Western European museums. Interpol is assisting in the international search for the stolen Dacian treasures.
A Greek employee of the United Nations is under investigation for allegedly embezzling over $1 million through fraudulent expense claims between 2014 and 2021. The case, initially reported to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, was transferred to Greece’s Prosecutor’s Office as the funds involved were not European. The accused, who held a senior position within the UN, faces charges of fraud and forgery and will soon testify before a magistrate.
The UK announced plans to become the first nation globally to implement sanctions specifically targeting irregular migration and the criminal networks facilitating it. Foreign Secretary David Lammy unveiled the proposed legislation, a key element of the government’s “Plan for Change” to strengthen border security and tackle human trafficking.
A 41-year-old man from Georgia, wanted by Greek authorities, was arrested on Thursday evening by…
Europol and international law enforcement agencies dismantled a drug trafficking ring using cryptocurrency, seizing $26 million in crypto and arresting nine suspects in a coordinated operation spanning six countries. The investigation, initiated by a Spanish cocaine trafficking case, uncovered a complex network of “underground bankers” laundering illicit funds, primarily controlled from the Dubai and the UAE.
Greek authorities have uncovered 46 kilos of high-purity cocaine hidden in a banana shipment at Thessaloniki’s port, leading to the arrest of four foreign nationals. The suspects, including individuals from Venezuela, Slovenia, Kosovo, and the Dominican Republic, have denied involvement. The cocaine, originating from Ecuador and valued at €1.3 million wholesale, was intended for European markets. Investigations into the international trafficking network are ongoing.
Five Turkish nationals have been detained in Greece on charges of weapons and drug trafficking, as well as involvement in organized crime. While denying the accusations, two of the suspects claimed they had recently arrived to apply for political asylum.
Greek authorities, in collaboration with Europol, have arrested two men—a 46-year-old Algerian and a 44-year-old Syrian—in connection with the forgery and trafficking of travel documents. The Algerian suspect was apprehended in Kolonos, Athens, with nine forged documents, while the Syrian was detained at Athens International Airport carrying 22 questionable travel documents. Both face legal proceedings as police crack down on document-related crimes.
The Hellenic Police have successfully dismantled a major international drug trafficking network led by Albanian leaders, responsible for distributing large quantities of cannabis and cocaine across Europe. The network was also connected to incidents of fan violence and utilized encrypted messaging applications, leading to a cooperative investigation with European authorities.
Greek authorities have dismantled a criminal network trafficking Colombian women into Greece, where they were forced into sex work at strip clubs and apartments. The operation, active since 2019, led to the arrest of the ringleader and eight members. 29 victims have been rescued and provided with support, with two additional suspects still at large. The investigation was sparked by the testimony of one victim, leading to raids on the suspects’ properties and the seizure of cash, weapons, and documents.
In a dramatic chase through the narrow streets of central Athens, Greek police apprehended a Turkish national and recovered two firearms. The pursuit, which involved a collision with parked vehicles, ended with a foot chase and subsequent arrests. The case, currently under the jurisdiction of the Greek FBI, is being closely examined for potential connections to previous criminal activities. Concerns have been raised about the origin of the weapons, reportedly of Turkish manufacture, and their entry into Greece through suspected trafficking networks.
Perry Kouroumblis, prime suspect in the 1977 Easey Street murders of Susan Bartlett and Suzanne Armstrong in Melbourne, is expected to be extradited from Italy after the Italian government approved Australia’s request. He was apprehended in Rome while traveling from Greece and maintains his innocence. A final judicial approval is pending before he is transferred to Australia to face trial.
Two Russian traffickers have been sentenced to a total of 380 years in prison and fined €3.8 million for smuggling 74 illegal immigrants into Greece. The migrants, including children, were discovered on a sailboat near Astypalaia in September 2023. The traffickers were found guilty of endangering lives and illegally transporting the migrants for profit. This significant ruling underscores Greece’s commitment to combating human trafficking in the Mediterranean.
Greek police have arrested a 64-year-old Vietnamese woman accused of smuggling nearly 300 kg of gold across the Vietnam-Cambodia border, allegedly concealing the gold under vehicles transporting ice. Detained at Athens Airport, she faces extradition after a year-long international search. Authorities believe she worked with relatives to transport the gold through unmonitored border points to evade customs control.
A 53-year-old Greek national, identified as Thanas B., faces up to 10 years in prison for his alleged role as a key player in a massive underworld banking operation. Prosecutors allege that B. facilitated the movement of hundreds of millions of euros for criminal organizations between June 2020 and March 2021.
The FBI is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Ruja Ignatova, the woman accused of masterminding the multi-billion dollar OneCoin cryptocurrency scam. Ignatova, who disappeared in 2017, is considered one of the world’s most wanted fugitives. Dubbed the “Cryptoqueen,” Ignatova rose to prominence promoting OneCoin as the next big thing in cryptocurrency. However, the scheme quickly unraveled, exposing it as an elaborate pyramid scheme that defrauded millions of investors globally out of an estimated $4 billion.
Officials in Greece have intercepted banknotes that were stolen from the Central Bank of Libya…
A member of an international smuggling gang wanted by Interpol for trafficking Latin American fuel…
British authorities have seized a staggering 5.7 tonnes of cocaine in a major blow to…
