Europol offers law enforcement agencies data on Europe’s most threatening crime networks

[Pelican Press 0]

Europol offers law enforcement agencies data on Europe’s most threatening ****** networks

The ********* policy agency, Europol, is to offer law enforcement agencies access to a “unique dataset” about the operations of the most threatening organised ****** groups in Europe.

The agency has drawn on data from its own records, 27 EU member states, and 17 other countries to identify how the most dangerous ********* networks are organised, the activities they engage in, and where they operate.

The analysis draws on huge quantities of data seized by police from hacking operations against encrypted phone networks used by organised ******, included EncroChat, Sky ECC, and Exclu, in addition to data collected by national police forces.

Europol’s executive director Catherine De Bolle said at a

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that Europol had undertaken the most extensive study on ********* networks.

“This data, now centralised at Europol, will give law enforcement agencies the edge they need to better target and conduct cross-border ********* investigations,” she said.

A analysis of the data collected by Europol has identified over 800 high-risk ********* networks and 250,000 individuals involved in ***** trafficking, migrant smuggling, property ****** and money laundering.

The ********* groups identified use legitimate businesses to hide their activities and to launder money from ********* activities. Their networks operate across international borders and include people from multiple countries. They tend to specialise in one main ********* activity, with half involved in ***** smuggling. Some 70% use ********* and intimidation as part of their operations.

Cyber attacks

The most threatening ****** groups identified include nine specialising in cyber attacks. The groups, largely run by Russian and Ukrainian **********, are active in France, Germany, Switzerland and the US.

These groups have up to 100 members but feature a small core of ********** which make ransomware available to affiliates to carry out cyber attacks. The core group manages negotiations and ransom payments often in cryptocurrency and typically pays affiliates 80% of the fee for conducting the *******.

Cyber service and technology solution providers offer critical support to ********* networks involved in ****** schemes. They include mass mailing and phishing campaigns, creating fake websites, advertisements and social media accounts. They also support online ****** schemes and advise on cryptocurrency movements, according to Europol.

Some ********* networks use countermeasures, such as encrypted telephones, to avoid detection by law enforcement. Others avoid communication on electronic devices and hold face-to-face meetings to leave no digital trace of their activities. 

The use of artificial intelligence may further facilitate **********’ use of countermeasures in the future, Europol says in a report

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published on 5 April 2024.

The main nationalities involved in major ****** networks are from  Albania, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine, with most ********* networks made up of a combination of EU and non-EU nationals.

The data reveals how ********** use bribery, together with the donation of gifts and other benefits in kind such as holidays, meals, or other services, to facilitate ******. The exploitation of family, loyalty and friendship is also common.

According to Europol, the data collected by the agency is a “pivotal asset” that  will assist national law enforcement authorities to better target and conduct their cross-border ********* investigations.

“The data collection has a unique importance as an intelligence-led assessment of how the most threatening ********* networks are organised,” it said.

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