HAGUE – Police arrested 45 suspects yesterday in an international operation against a drug-trafficking network from Brazil into Europe, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) said, reported Anadolu Agency.
“This international sting, led by Portuguese, Belgian and Brazilian authorities, was carried out simultaneously by agencies from three different continents, with coordination efforts facilitated by Europol,” said the EU police agency in a statement.
The network imported at least 45 tonnes of cocaine into main European seaports, with profits exceeding €100 million (RM 486.9 million) in the course of six months, the statement said.
A total of 180 houses were raided.
“Over €12 million in cash was seized in Portugal, €300,000 seized in Belgium, and over a million Brazilian real (RM761,500) and US$169,000 (RM687,74) seized in Brazil”, as well as 70 luxury vehicles, it said.
In addition, the financial assets of 10 individuals were frozen in Spain.
The EU noted that the operation is the “biggest ever crackdown” against a drug ring smuggling cocaine from Brazil into Europe. – Bernama, November 28, 2020
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