LOC13:22
10:22 GMT
BRUSSELS, Nov 28 (KUNA) -- Coordinated raids were carried out across Europe and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between 8-19 November, targeting both the command-and-control centre and the logistical drugs trafficking infrastructure in Europe.
A total of 49 suspects have been arrested during the course of this investigation, said Europol in a statement Monday.
The drugpins considered as high-value targets by Europol had come together to form what was known as a "super cartel" which controlled around one third of the cocaine trade in Europe.
These arrests are the culmination of parallel investigations run in Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UAE with the support of Europol into the activities of this prolific criminal network involved in large-scale drugs trafficking and money laundering, it noted.
The scale of cocaine importation into Europe under the suspectsآ’ control and command was massive and over 30 tonnes of drugs were seized by law enforcement over the course of the investigations.
Earlier in September, Europol and the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates took an important step in enhancing their cooperation, said the statement.
A Liaison Officer Agreement was signed between the two, allowing UAE law enforcement liaison officers to be deployed to Europolآ’s headquarters in the Netherlands.
Europol is the EUآ’s police agency. Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, it supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime.
Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. (end)
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