Post by tripwire on Nov 3, 2007 16:09:14 GMT -5
www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1193842921.31
Police raids in six European countries target cocaine smugglers
31 October 2007, 17:48 CET
(ZAGREB) - Police across Europe have arrested 23 people in a series of raids targetting an international ring that smuggled hundreds of kilos of cocaine in from Colombia, Croatia's police chief said Wednesday.
"In a coordinated international action, 23 people, of whom 10 were Croatian nationals, were arrested on the territory of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Croatia," said Croatian police chief Marijan Benko.
The operation, dubbed "August", was launched early this year after investigators picked up the trail of a gang bringing the drug into Croatia and other parts of Europe from Colombia.
The gang had smuggled at least 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of cocaine, with a street value of around seven million euros (10 million dollars), said Benko.
The arrests had been carried out in raids on Tuesday and Wednesday, he added.
"A Croatian national, who was detained in Frankfurt (Germany) was the leader of the criminal group," said Benko's deputy, Ivan Nadj.
The assets of the arrested Croatians, worth almost eight million euros, were frozen.
Security and justice officials from Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands all cooperated in the operation, said Benko.
Several gang members nevertheless remained at large, and international warrants had been issued for their arrest.
Croatia lies on the so-called Balkan route used by organised crime gangs to smuggle drugs and people into western Europe.
Police raids in six European countries target cocaine smugglers
31 October 2007, 17:48 CET
(ZAGREB) - Police across Europe have arrested 23 people in a series of raids targetting an international ring that smuggled hundreds of kilos of cocaine in from Colombia, Croatia's police chief said Wednesday.
"In a coordinated international action, 23 people, of whom 10 were Croatian nationals, were arrested on the territory of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Croatia," said Croatian police chief Marijan Benko.
The operation, dubbed "August", was launched early this year after investigators picked up the trail of a gang bringing the drug into Croatia and other parts of Europe from Colombia.
The gang had smuggled at least 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of cocaine, with a street value of around seven million euros (10 million dollars), said Benko.
The arrests had been carried out in raids on Tuesday and Wednesday, he added.
"A Croatian national, who was detained in Frankfurt (Germany) was the leader of the criminal group," said Benko's deputy, Ivan Nadj.
The assets of the arrested Croatians, worth almost eight million euros, were frozen.
Security and justice officials from Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands all cooperated in the operation, said Benko.
Several gang members nevertheless remained at large, and international warrants had been issued for their arrest.
Croatia lies on the so-called Balkan route used by organised crime gangs to smuggle drugs and people into western Europe.