A total of 34 countries teamed up last week to combat organised and serious international crime originating from Southeast Europe as part of joint action days (JAD). The four-day operation was aimed at tackling illegal immigration and the trafficking of firearms and drugs, which are key priorities of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).
Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, took part in the operation within the framework of its land border operations in Eastern and South Eastern Europe, in particular JO Focal Points and JO Flexible Operational Activities. The agency also supported the participants providing expertise on document fraud, with the Frontex’s Centre of Excellence in Combatting Document Fraud available 24/7 to help check suspicious documents.
To help officers detect trafficked firearms, Frontex organised a webinar on firearms trafficking in the EU, Eastern and South Eastern Europe with more than 100 participants.
The operation brought together:
- EU Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
- Non-EU Member States: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States.
- EU Agencies: Europol, Eurojust, Frontex
- International and institutional partners: INTERPOL, UNODC, PCC-SEE, CCWP, PA/2019 countering serious and organised crime in the Western Balkans, SEESAC.
8838 law enforcement officers were involved in the operation and included police officers, land, sea and air border guards and customs agents.
Big hit against illicit trafficking
During the span of the action week, more than 390 000 people and 44 000 vehicles were checked at cross border locations and in suspected hotspots for criminal trafficking.
These controls and investigations have led to the following arrests in several European countries:
- Firearms trafficking or illegal possession of firearms: 17
- Migrant smuggling or illegal immigration: 73
- Drug trafficking: 37
- Firearms and drug trafficking: 7
- Document fraud: 12
- International arrest warrant: 1
- Other crimes not related to the JAD: 19
In addition, investigators seized 51 weapons of different types and 47 kilograms of a variety of drugs.
Operational setup
The EMPACT Firearms – led by the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) coordinated the operation with the support of Europol.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
