Advertisement

Readers like you keep news free for everyone.

More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

Support us today
Not now
Sunday 4 June 2023 Dublin: 8°C

# Europol

Last month
May 2023
# Europe
Gardaí assist in Europol operation that freed six children from child sexual abuse
The operation, dubbed the Victim Identification Taskforce organised by Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), took place earlier this month.
# Monopoly Market
Nearly 300 people arrested in US-Europe crackdown on dark web drugs marketplace
The operation also netted almost a tonne of drugs and 117 firearms, Europe’s policing agency said.
This year
2023
# AI criminals
ChatGPT's ability to draft realistic texts makes it tool for scammers & cyber crime - Europol
EUROPOL, the EU’s law enforcement agency, has carried out a report looking at the threat posed by the new Artificial Intelligence website.
Last year
2022
# extremism
Gardaí take part in European operation targeting online content from far-right and terrorist groups
The operation took place on 15 December and involved 14 countries.
# Organised Crime
Europe wide operation targets drug cartel with six arrests in Dubai
Europol announced this morning that 49 suspects across Europe and the United Arab Emirates have been arrested.
# europol raids
Gardaí involved in major operation against 'logistics and money laundering' gang in Spain
Europol has said that the gang was providing financial and technical support to other criminal groups in Europe.
# terror report
Europol: Terror groups used Covid-19 misinformation to 'advance their narrative'
The EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report found terror groups were targeting young isolated people during the Covid-19 restrictions.
# terror report
Europol: Four jihadist suspects among 14 terrorism arrests in Ireland last year
There was also one right-wing terror suspect and seven dissident republican or loyalist suspects.
All time
# dark web
Europol reports several high-profile targets were caught in a major dark-web bust
Europe’s policing agency said the alleged operator’s arrest provided a ‘trove of evidence’
# drug boat
Spanish police seize first ever narco submarine built in Europe
Investigators estimated it was being fitted to transport up to two tonnes of drugs.
# operation aphrodite
4,000 TV set top boxes seized by gardaí during European-wide operation
Investigations were carried out in Dublin, Waterford, Tipperary, Mayo and Laois.
# kinahan cartel
Decrypted: How European drug lords are scrambling for cover as encrypted phone networks are compromised
The Kinahan cartel is suspected of using these phones.
# Europol
Man arrested and fake passports seized in Dublin as part of European cyber fraud investigation
The arrest was made as part of a probe into a Europe-wide organised crime operation.
# sex trafficking
Children are being trafficked into Ireland by their own families for exploitation by the sex trade
The majority of the ringleaders of child trafficking into the EU are female according to Europol.
# Europol
Three jihadists among 11 arrests for terror offences last year
There were far more arrests for terror offences in Northern Ireland, according to Europol’s report.
# info
Charlie Flanagan says data from airlines will be 'invaluable' in combating terrorism
Air carriers are now obliged to provide EU member states with passenger information.
# Terrorism
How Europol is fighting a war online against Islamic extremists
More than 45,000 extremist messages in two years have been removed from the internet due to Europol’s intervention.
# top dollar
Ireland is in the EU's top 10 countries for money laundering and terrorist financing
A report has found that Ireland comes in third place when it comes to the number of reports into the suspected financing of terrorism.
# wish you were here
Tongue-in-cheek postcards launched in bid to track down Europe's most-wanted criminals
“Belgian fries are the best and we know you miss them.”
# online sexual coercion
Children as young as 8 being blackmailed with their own sexual images by online criminals
A number of children have died by suicide after falling victim to ‘sextortion’.
# retracing steps
New website will show clues from child sex abuse cases to help track down paedophiles
Europol has shared 20 images of mundane objects that could help track down the perpetrators of child sex abuse.
# Europol
Crackdown on paedophile ring that uses Whatsapp to share images of child sex abuse
Arrests were made across Europe and Latin America.
# Advent
Europol has released a grisly Advent calendar of their most wanted criminals
Europe’s crime agency are publishing one fugitive from one member state per day.
# Europol
Isis likely to attack Europe again soon
A new report says IS will likely target countries that are members of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the extremist organisation.
# Ciconia Alba
Nearly 400 arrested and over two tonnes of cocaine seized in Europe-wide crackdown
Operation Ciconia Alba is the third series of joint action days covered by the 2013 – 2017 EU Policy Cycle.
# cyber crime
Live streaming of child sexual abuse on the rise
Cyber crime investigators have also noticed a rise in so-called “revenge porn”.
# dark web
Child pornography: 75 people arrested in Europe-wide crackdown
Operation Daylight was started after Europol received information from Swiss police last year revealing a vast network of criminals involved in the sexual exploitation of minors.
# Europol
14 of Europe's most-wanted criminals have been arrested this year
And you could help catch more.
# Big Money
The 5 most commonly used illegal drugs in Europe and how much they're worth
A new report released this week gave a breakdown of drug trends in Europe.
# Europol
Ireland is the biggest user of legal highs in Europe as their growth shows 'no signs of a slowdown'
The EU Drug Markets Report shows that the use of new drugs continues to rise across Europe.
# fugitive hunt
The most wanted people in Europe and their horrific crimes
Europol has published a list of Europe’s 45 most wanted criminal suspects.
# warning
Islamic State is planning for large-scale attacks on Europe, says police chief
The head of the EU police agency Europol says that IS has developed a “new combat-style capability”.
# paedophile rings
Abusers streaming child sex abuse footage through video chat apps
Criminal gangs are recruiting disadvantaged children or their own children for the abuse, according to a disturbing new report from Europol.
# Tor
Worldwide crackdown on 'dark net' leads to 15 arrests (and two in Ireland)
An investigation coordinated by Europol covered the United States and 16 countries in Europe.
# Operation Archimedes
Gardaí team up with Europol in operation that saved 30 children from trafficking
Over 1,000 arrests were made across the EU and most arrests made in Ireland were for burglary offences.
# Operation Atelier
Irish arrest made in child abuse photography crackdown by Europol
A total of 10 arrests were made across five countries.
# Metal Theft
Gardaí discover 1000 stolen beer kegs
27 people were arrested during a two-day European day of action against metal theft.
# crime gangs
Gardaí believe sex traffickers use voodoo rituals on their victims
Seven victims of human trafficking were identified in Ireland over the past 48 hours.
# Seizure
Gardaí seize stolen artefacts in international operation targeting criminal gang
Local police forces in Britain and Northern Ireland also arrested 19 people after a number of searches earlier today in connection with the operation.
# Child Safety
Online sexual predators increasingly using blackmail and threats against children
Online predators using the internet to gain access to young victims are increasingly using blackmail, extortion and aggression in their approaches.