In a sweeping crackdown across Europe, law enforcement agencies have arrested over 230 individuals and dismantled four major drug smuggling networks in a series of coordinated raids. The operation, codenamed “Bulut,” was led by Europol and involved authorities from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Turkey. The raids resulted in the seizure of more than 21 tonnes of narcotics, including 3.3 million MDMA tablets, marking one of the largest drug hauls in recent European history.
The criminal organizations targeted in these raids were responsible for trafficking drugs into both the European Union and Turkey, utilizing a combination of traditional smuggling routes and sophisticated logistics. According to Europol, the groups also engaged in money laundering, violent crime, and other forms of organized criminal activity. The operation was made possible in part by the interception of encrypted communications on platforms such as Sky ECC and ANOM, which provided investigators with critical intelligence on the networks’ operations and hierarchy.
Photographs from the raids show heavily armed officers breaching properties, arresting suspects, and seizing large quantities of drugs, cash, and vehicles. The majority of arrests—225 out of 234—were made in Turkey, with additional suspects apprehended in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Spain. Andy Kraag, head of Europol’s European Serious Organized Crime Centre, described the operation as “a massive blow” to organized crime, emphasizing that authorities had managed to apprehend everyone from top leaders to street-level operatives.
This unprecedented crackdown sends a strong message to criminal organizations operating in Europe. As Europol continues to analyze intelligence from intercepted communications, further arrests are expected. The success of Operation Bulut underscores the growing effectiveness of international cooperation in combating transnational drug trafficking and organized crime.
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(Source: BBC | EuroNews | CBS)
