Europol crackdown on gang linked to the Sinaloa cartel sees 16 people arrested
The EU say that illegal drug labs are on the rise as Mexican cartels work closely with European ones
16 homes were searched, with 3 vehicles, phones, electronics, €90,000, and luxury goods worth €100,000 also seized
16 people have been arrested as part of a Europol crackdown on a gang linked to the Sinaloa cartel.
Following a day of action on May 19th, French police arrested 15 people, with one person detained in Belgium.
16 homes were searched, with 3 vehicles, phones, electronics, €90,000, and luxury goods worth €100,000 also seized.
A further €30,000 in cryptocurrency was frozen, with more seizures expected down the line.
Officers searched a former drugs lab where they uncovered traces of meth production, evidence of chemical dumping and signs of illicit waste disposal.
They also found evidence of attempts to conceal the scale of the synthetic drug manufacturing activities.
It came after two French nationals were arrested following the seizure of 216 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in June 2024.
The investigation which followed uncovered a criminal network involved in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs with strong ties to the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.
They also found links to criminal gangs active in Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
The two main organisers of the network gave the Mexican cartels local intermediaries to anchor their operations in exchange for logistical support and expertise.
This interdependence, Europol says, 'underscores the transnational nature of the network and the cooperation between criminal actors across continents.'
Evidence collected during the investigation led to the identification of the main organisers, one Algerian and one French national.
Authorities say the two are alleged to be responsible for the entire production chain, from smuggling chemicals, setting up the lab, cooking the drugs, and their subsequent trafficking.
16 homes were searched, with 3 vehicles, phones, electronics, €90,000, and luxury goods worth €100,000 also seized
News in 90 Seconds - May 28th
They also used cryptocurrency to facilitate their illegal financial transactions.
Europol have said that illegal production labs are not new to the EU, and are rising sharply.
A 2022 report by Europol and the DEA (Drugs Enforcement Agency) revealed that there was an increase in the collaboration between Mexican drug cartels and EU-based criminal networks.
'These alliances have been seen to support the trafficking and local production of methamphetamine and cocaine in Europe,' the agency said.
'Specifically, successful operations have revealed that Mexican groups provide their EU criminal associates with technical know-how such as skilled methamphetamine 'cooks' and help establish cocaine conversion labs.'
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