Compact team of European police forces working together to fight international organized crime from South Eastern Europe.
This is the meaning of the Joint Action Days (JADS), which took place from 24 to 27 September last in 34 countries with the coordination of Europol and which focused attention on three criminal phenomena in particular: illegal immigration, illegal firearms trafficking and drug trafficking. These are fundamental priorities of EMPACT (European Multi-disciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats), the European platform in which, through annual operational plans, the action to combat threats considered to be a priority in Europe is concretely implemented.
The operation brought together:
- European Union states: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden;
- Non-EU States: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States;
- European Agencies: Europol, Eurojust, Frontex
- Institutional international partners: Interpol, UNODC, PCC-SEE, CCWP, IPA / 2019 fighting organized crime in the Western Balkans, SEESAC.
Nearly 9.000 law enforcement officers have been employed in JADS, displacing police officers and customs officials in ports, airports and along sea and land borders.
Great success against illicit trafficking
During the 4 days of action, more than 390.000 people and 44.000 vehicles were checked in cross-border locations and in hotspots typical of criminal trafficking.
There are 166 arrests made in the various European countries divided as follows:
- Firearms trafficking or illegal possession of firearms 17
- Migrant smuggling or illegal immigration 73
- Drug trafficking 37
- Firearms and drug trafficking 7
- Document fraud / Document fraud 12
- International arrest warrant / International arrest warrant 1
- Other crimes not related to the JAD 19
In addition, 51 weapons of different types and a large amount of different types of drugs and false documents were seized
Operational structure
The EMPACT Firearms Working Group, led by the Spanish Civil Guard, coordinated the whole operation with the support of Europol.
The highest risk areas were identified in advance following an upstream work of information gathering and analysis between national authorities, Europol and institutional partners.
The operational framework within which the JADS took place was, in fact, built on the basis of cross-checks on the databases to facilitate the development of investigations, controls, analyzes, information exchange and communication in real time.
During the operation, Europol then set up a virtual coordination center to allow for daily briefings and to support the exchange of information between participants.
In Italy
In Italy, the Joint Action Days involved the Guardia di Finanza, in collaboration with the Monopoly and Customs Agency, various specializations of the State Police in their respective areas of competence (customs, immigration and borders, services anti-drug and anti-terrorism) and joint forces such as the Central Directorate for Anti-Drug Services and the Service for International Police Cooperation. Altogether almost 4.000 operators were employed who checked over 120.000 people and 4.000 vehicles, with 40 arrests and seizure of over 50 kilos of drugs.
The greatest number of alleged crimes were the facilitation of illegal immigration and international drug trafficking.
Moreover, this is an activity that does not end with the JADs but continues because the results obtained have led to the launch of 25 further investigations.
The head of Europol's Center for Organized Crime, Jari Liukku, added: “Criminals in the South Eastern European region are increasingly expanding their network of influence. Europol is committed to working closely with this area and to supporting a coordinated and mutually supportive international approach to tackling serious and organized crime. This operation is an extraordinary success and shows strong cooperation between law enforcement “.
In Italy, Prefect Vittorio Rizzi, Deputy Director General of Public Security, commented: “Security has never stopped due to COVID-19. The network of international police cooperation is strong and active because only by combining information and operations from all countries can we fight a crime that is increasingly transnational ”.