Europol

Wouldn’t it be nice if your phone had features like… ⚠️ A built-in “this is 100% a scam” detector 💔 An “are you sure you want to call your ex?” alert 🔄 An "accidental like" undo button (from 2018 posts) ✉️ A “this meeting could have been an email” detector 📵 A “don’t pick up, this is a scammer” alert Unfortunately, updates like these aren’t real. (April Fools.) But scams are. ⚠️

📢 Protect people through your work. Join Europol's European Cyber Crime Centre (EC3) to support international investigations against child sexual exploitation. Contribute to victim identification by developing tools and approaches, and providing forensic expertise across digital devices. This is an opportunity to work with partners across Member States and beyond, deliver training, advise investigators, and support operations targeting transnational offenders. Deadline: 20 April 🔗 Apply: https://lnkd.in/e-v8nwFK #EUCareers #Hiring #LawEnforcement

Earlier this month, a joint operation with Ecuador, Belgium, and the Netherlands resulted in over 4 tonnes of cocaine seized and 16 suspects arrested, including a high-value target (HVT). ⭐ It is operations like these that underscore the importance of international cooperation in combating organised crime. Thank you to Team #ONDERMIJNING from the Dutch National Police for highlighting Europol’s role in supporting law enforcement cooperation, particularly in this operation countering international drug trade.

🚨 Guns-for-cannabis network dismantled in coordinated European action. A Europol high-value target has been arrested as part of a coordinated operation across Spain, Bulgaria and Greece, targeting a criminal network trafficking firearms into the EU and exchanging them for cannabis. The investigation uncovered a structured supply chain: 💥 Weapons sourced in the Western Balkans and Türkiye 🚛 Concealed transport routes into the EU 🌿 Cannabis distributed across Europe as part of criminal exchanges This flow of illicit firearms significantly increased the firepower of organised crime groups and contributed to violence across Member States. On the action day (23 March), 21 suspects were targeted, with major seizures including firearms, ammunition and hundreds of kilograms of cannabis. 👏 Strong operational work by Mossos d’Esquadra, alongside Spanish National Police, Bulgarian and Greek authorities, supported by Europol’s intelligence and coordination capabilities. 🔗 Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/eSC5w5tY #IllegalFirearms

🔎 Look closely at the image. Every detail matters. These images are extracted from ongoing child sexual abuse investigations👕Have you seen this T-shirt, this logo, or this item before? 🕵️♂️ #TraceAnObject is a Europol platform that asks the public to help identify everyday objects linked to serious crimes, including child abuse. Each clue could help protect a child. Learn more about this initiative or submit a tip at ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ddDYVbj

📲 EncroChat: The unraveling of a criminal network What started as an investigation by the French Gendarmerie Nationale quickly evolved into an international operation that sent shockwaves in the criminal underworld across Europe. Intrigued by Europol's involvement, the European Commission Representation in France 🇪🇺 🇫🇷 embarked on a mission to explore how Europol assisted European law enforcement agencies in dismantling one of the Europe's largest encrypted network. 📺 Full documentary available on February 29 on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/epTkJ7zz Produced by the European Commission Representation in France

We received a delegation of Belgian federal magistrates to Europol yesterday📍 The delegation met with our Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle, before participating in presentations from various Europol’s Departments. Belgium's federal magistrates often handle complex organised crime cases, and are responsible for the coordination of investigations at the national level. 🌐 Aligned with Europol’s mission to support cross-border investigations, today’s visit gave the federal magistrates an update on how Europol operates, including its intelligence-sharing practices and the cooperation mechanisms in place between Belgium and Europol. 🤝 Working together strengthen our ability to act faster and more effectively in tackling organised crime, cybercrime, and terrorism cases that require coordinated European action.

It is Europol’s top priority to combat Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) nurtured online. However, any legal gaps at the EU level affecting the detection and reporting of CSAM by online service providers could hinder our efforts. 🔹 Last year alone, Europol processed 1.1 million CyberTips. Removing the legal basis for voluntary detection by online platforms could reduce these referrals, impairing our ability to safeguard children. It is crucial that online service providers can continue to detect and report suspected CSAM. ➡️ Read the full statement from Europol's Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle: https://lnkd.in/erWfdwHs

🇪🇺 The EU needs stronger independent evaluation of biometric systems to ensure they are accurate, reliable and compliant with EU law, as their use continues to expand across border management, migration and security. This is highlighted in a new policy brief developed under the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security, which underlines that current evaluation practices in the EU remain fragmented and largely reliant on external actors. It calls for stronger EU-level capabilities to ensure: 🔹 Independent and transparent testing of biometric systems 🔹 Better support for public authorities in procurement and deployment 🔹 Compliance with the EU legal framework, including the AI Act 🔹 Increased trust in the use of biometric technologies Together, these measures would strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty, while ensuring that innovation goes hand in hand with fundamental rights and accountability. 🤝 Developed jointly by EU Agency eu-LISA, the European Commission (DG HOME, DG JRC), Europol and Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. 🔗 Read the full policy brief: https://lnkd.in/eMbSAfeX #StrongerTogether #MakingEuropeSafer

🚨 Significant disruption of the migrant smuggling supply chain serving criminal networks active along the English Channel. A joint investigation, conducted under the framework of a Europol task force, resulted in: 📍 14 locations searched 👤 4 High Value Targets arrested 🌊 Seizures of nautical equipment 📦 In general, smuggling package are worth over EUR 10 000 on the black market, and include items such as an inflatable boat, engine, pumps, petrol jerry cans and tyre inner tubes. The operation involved authorities from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, with support from Eurojust. 🔗 Read more in our press release: https://lnkd.in/e7CfKQA8