International Operation nets multiple criminal networks

OPERATION ATLAS NEXUS has led to the identification and dismantling of dozens of transnational criminal networks in a coordinated international action bringing together law enforcement, customs and judicial authorities from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and other regions of the world.

In terms of the volume of seizures and the number of countries involved, it is the largest joint operation against organised crime carried out to date between both regions, states a joint release from the Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) and EL PACCTO.

Led by the Belgian Federal Police, the operation was coordinated and conducted jointly by Operational Action 6.1 of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) focused on the Most Threatening Criminal Networks and Individuals (MTCNI), FRONTEX and CARICOM IMPACS, facilitated by EL PACCTO 2.0, the European Union’s flagship cooperation programme with Latin America and the Caribbean on security and justice, which supported the coordination between the various actors involved on both sides of the Atlantic.

The operation focused on identifying and disrupting polycriminal networks and high-value targets, seize criminal assets and initiate further investigations, across five priority criminal markets: drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings, document fraud, firearms trafficking and environmental crime.

Seizures include 37,6 tonnes of cocaine, 118,6 tonnes of cannabis, 201 firearms, 3131 units of ammunition and explosives, 803 wild animals and livestock, US$135,000 in cash and cryptocurrencies, 0.83 kg of gold, 169 properties, 464 pieces of jewellery, 468 fraudulent documents and 1 vehicle. 37 INTERPOL notices were issued during the operation, 17 of them were red.

More than 8,680 police officers and justice authorities took part in the various national operational actions to monitor 110 aircraft, 28 vessels, 415 vehicles and 271 containers at 28 designated checkpoints in ports, airports and on roads. A total of 595 search warrants were executed.

Authorities from 35 countries took part in the operation. Among those reporting the most significant results are Australia, Costa Rica, France, Greece, Ireland, Montenegro, Paraguay, Portugal, Suriname and Sweden. Alongside countries from Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina also joined the action. Both the French Armed Forces High Command in the Antilles and FRONTEX made naval assets available for interception operations. Australia played a key role in the seizure of more than 5.6 tonnes of cocaine. As a result, new modi operandi and routes have been identified, the release also states. Operation ATLAS NEXUS participating countries were Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Saint Lucia, Slovenia, Suriname, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States.