| 1. OPERATION BULUT: TURKEY TAKES THE LEAD IN A HISTORIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANISED CRIME CRACKDOWN​

| 225 high-ranking members of international criminal organisations arrested

Turkish officials, working with Europol and law enforcement agencies from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, have dismantled a wide network of organised criminal syndicates in a massive global operation known as “Operation BULUT” (meaning “cloud” in Turkish). 225 high-ranking members of international criminal organisations were arrested in Turkey and nine overseas as a result of the coordinated operations that were carried out.

Four significant international drug cartels were the focus of the investigation; they were involved in the trafficking of cocaine from South America, heroin from Iran and Afghanistan, skunk cannabis from the Balkans, and ecstasy into Turkey and wider Europe via various European routes. In addition to discovering massive money laundering activities connected to these networks, authorities recovered 21.2 tonnes of drugs, including 3.3 million MDMA tablets.

Using intelligence gleaned from encrypted communication services, particularly Sky ECC and ANOM, was a key component of Operation BULUT.

Turkish detectives were able to sketch out the criminal hierarchy and logistics of the syndicates thanks to decrypted data from these platforms that were provided by French and Australian authorities. Turkish officers were sent to Europol’s headquarters to collaborate directly with European analysts, allowing for strategic planning and real-time coordination.

According to Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Europol’s Executive Deputy Director Operations “Years after their takedown, encrypted platforms like SKY ECC and ANOM are still helping law enforcement turn intelligence into action. This case shows how powerful that data remains in identifying and dismantling high-value criminal networks operating in Europe. From logistics coordinators to the top tier of the criminal infrastructure, no one is beyond reach when countries work together and act on solid intelligence”.

The following authorities took part in the investigation:

France: JUNALCO (National jurisdiction against Organised Crime), National Police (OFAST)

The Netherlands: National Police

Belgium: Federal Judicial Police Central Unit (DJSOC), Federal Judicial Police of East Flanders

Germany: Federal Criminal Police (Bundeskriminalamt)

Spain: National Police and Guardia Civil

Türkiye: National Police; Counter Narcotics Department/Istanbul Narcotics Division (Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü Narkotik Suçlarla Mücadele Başkanlığı/ İstanbul Narkotik Suçlarla Mücadele Şube Müdürlüğü), Interpol-Europol Department (Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü İnterpol-Europol Daire Başkanlığı)

| 2. AK RIFLES AND GRENADES SEIZED AS FIREARMS TRAFFICKING ROUTE INTO FRANCE DISMANTLED

Cooperation between authorities from France, Slovenia, Spain and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support from Eurojust and Europol, has resulted in the dismantling of an arms traffickers group. Actions taking place simultaneously in France, Spain and Bosnia and Herzegovina led to the arrest of seven members of the criminal group.

Investigations into the group started when authorities found a large number of weapons, ammunition and grenades. Further investigations in the group led to suspicions that some members of the group resided in France. Authorities found out that the criminal group trafficked large numbers of weapons that they bought on illegal marketplaces in Bosnia and Herzegovina to smuggle them into France.

Authorities started to work together through Eurojust to stop the criminal group and arrest its members. Eurojust ensured that European Arrest Warrants and European Investigation Orders were prepared ahead of the coordinated operation. Europol supported the investigation from the outset, delivering operational analysis to the cases in the involved countries, coordinating international cooperation by organising operational meetings, and deploying officers to France and Spain for the action day.

A coordinated operation to take down the group started on 18 March. The cooperation between authorities led to the arrest of seven members of the criminal group, four in France, one in Spain and two in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Searches were carried out in Spain and Bosnia and Herzegovina to collect information and evidence on the group’s activities. Bosnian authorities are actively searching for the main target.

The following authorities carried out the operations:

• France: JIRS Paris (Interregional Specialised Jurisdiction); OCLCO (National Police Office against organised crime)
• Slovenia: District State Prosecutor’s Office in Kranj; Police Directorate Kranj
• Spain: PPO Audiencia Nacional; Central Investigating Court num 5 at Audiencia Nacional; Guardia Civil
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ministry of Interior Affaires – Republic of Srpska (part of the investigation before the operation)