Article: Groundbreaking research provides insight into operations of Italian mafias across Europe

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Groundbreaking research provides insight into operations of Italian mafias across Europe

Michael Steward, 24 May 2021

A groundbreaking new report by researchers in Essex has provided the first analysis into the expansion of Italian mafias across Europe. The report, published by the University of Essex, highlights how criminal groups embed themselves in countries and operate across borders, and the challenges of policing mafia-type crime.

Using Italy as a starting point, the research focused on seven countries – the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Romania, and Switzerland. For mafia groups, territories outside Italy are places where they can consolidate certain business or venture into new ones. The report revealed how mafia groups operate very differently in each country. Continue reading “Article: Groundbreaking research provides insight into operations of Italian mafias across Europe”

Article: Police Across Europe Crush Ponzi Schemes, Recover Lost Money

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Police Across Europe Crush Ponzi Schemes, Recover Lost Money

ZDRAVKO LJUBAS, 18 May 2021

Authorities in Europe have dismantled several investment fraud schemes across the continent and recovered some of the money victims lost. Confiscation of proceeds from crimes is a strategic priority of the European Union, Europol said.

With the help of U.K. law enforcement and Europol, Spanish police recovered some of the over 15 million euro (US$18,2 million) hundreds of victims had lost in a ponzi scheme after a Spanish national living in the U.K. tricked them into making seemingly safe investments with high returns.

Police recovered about six million euro ($7,28 million) or some 40 percent of the money people invested, according to Europol. Continue reading “Article: Police Across Europe Crush Ponzi Schemes, Recover Lost Money”

Article: Gang boss laundering money for drug cartels handed over to Poland

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Gang boss laundering money for drug cartels handed over to Poland

thefirstnews, 17 May 2021

A Dutch court has agreed to hand over to Poland a gang boss laundering money for Colombian drug cartels.

Shalom Lior A. (name withheld), wanted on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW), was the boss of a gang which had laundered PLN 1.4 billion (EUR 304 million) for Colombian drug cartels.

An investigation into an international organised crime gang laundering money coming from drug trafficking and internet crimes, so-called phishing, has been carried out by a Lower Silesian unit of the Department for Investigations of Organised Crime and Corruption at the National Prosecutor’s Office in Wroclaw (western Poland). Continue reading “Article: Gang boss laundering money for drug cartels handed over to Poland”

Article: CASHING IN Crime gangs running sophisticated scams are making millions off Irish victims

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CASHING IN Crime gangs running sophisticated scams are making millions off Irish victims

Eamon Dillon, 15 May 2021

Ireland is being swamped by criminal gangs running widespread scams that are raking in millions in profits.

Targeting individuals and commercial firms, fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated and are constantly changing their tactics. Last month, 163 people reported attempts by fraudsters to trick them into handing over personal details – five times the level compared the same period in 2019. Continue reading “Article: CASHING IN Crime gangs running sophisticated scams are making millions off Irish victims”

Article: Latest Hit Against Tobacco Smugglers Results in 12 Arrests in France

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Latest Hit Against Tobacco Smugglers Results in 12 Arrests in France

Homeland Security Today, 14 May 2021

During the second week of May, the French Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) with the support of the French Judicial Customs (SEJF) arrested five individuals and seized 250,000 counterfeit cigarettes in a series of raids in the city of Nantes.

This action follows an earlier one on April 9 which saw seven other members of the same organized crime group arrested in the cities of Nantes, Rodez and Montpellier. On this occasion, close to five tonnes of counterfeit cigarettes were seized, alongside €37,000 in cash. Continue reading “Article: Latest Hit Against Tobacco Smugglers Results in 12 Arrests in France”

Article: European police bust major online investment fraud ring

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European police bust major online investment fraud ring

Amer Owaida, 13 May 2021

Europol and several national law enforcement agencies have teamed up to take down an investment fraud and money laundering ring that caused losses of approximately €30 million (US$36 million) to hundreds of victims, according to a press release by the European Union’s law enforcement agency.

The investigation led to the arrest of 11 suspects and involved the search of dozens of locations across Europe and Israel with law enforcement officers seizing a range of ill-gotten gains including jewels, real estate, high-end vehicles and some €2 million (US$2.4 million) in cash. The effort was spearheaded by German law enforcement authorities and supported by their peers from Bulgaria, Israel, Latvia, North-Macedonia, Poland, Spain, and Sweden. Continue reading “Article: European police bust major online investment fraud ring”

Article: How the pandemic became an EU goldmine for crime

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How the pandemic became an EU goldmine for crime

ANDREW RETTMAN, 13 April 2021

The recession set to hit Europe after the pandemic will help organised crime penetrate legitimate business and recruit out-of-work specialists, the EU’s joint police agency, Europol, has warned.

“Businesses operating in sectors suffering particularly negative economic pressures, such as the hospitality, catering and tourism sectors, are becoming more vulnerable to criminal infiltration,” it said in a report out on Monday (12 April). Continue reading “Article: How the pandemic became an EU goldmine for crime”

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