Latest news with #Europol
Sunday World
a day ago
- General
- Sunday World
Police seize machine guns, rifles and revolvers in crackdown on firearms traffickers
Investigations have shown the suspects were trading handguns, assault rifles and even grenade launchers Some of the rifles that were seized Magazines were part of the haul Rows of handguns that were seized Police have seized dozens of machine guns, rifles, revolvers and other weapons in a crackdown on firearms traffickers in Europe. Belgian law enforcement agencies as well as those in Austria took part in the Europol hit on criminal networks engaged in firearms and drugs trafficking A total of 74 handguns and automatic rifles were seized, while 11 firearms traffickers were arrested. Officers also dismantled a synthetic drugs lab in several 'action days' conducted in May. Rows of handguns that were seized News in 90 June 4th More than 30 locations in Belgium and Austria were searched during the operation which targeted a criminal network engaged in international firearms trafficking. Investigations have shown the suspects were trading handguns, assault rifles and even grenade launchers. On one day alone, 50 handguns of a specific make were discovered, as well as 13 other handguns, four machine guns, four rifles, one revolver, two alarm pistols, and four large-capacity magazines for automatic weapons. Magazines were part of the haul Another 16 magazines and two 'homemade clubs' were seized while in one location, law enforcement officers found a drug laboratory and over 450 kilos of a novel synthetic drug. The site had also been used as a storage facility for illegal cigarettes. The criminal network involved in trafficking firearms had been under covert investigation for months, as investigators gained an insight into the organisers, their helpers and various buyers. Based in Belgium, it is suspected that the gang had contacts with weapon traffickers based all over Europe, including Austria. The Austrian suspects, of which two were arrested in Belgium, are believed to have supplied a large number of weapons to the criminal network. They were already known to law enforcement for obtaining large amounts of weapon parts in Austria and illegally exporting them. 'Certain weapon parts can be obtained without a license in Austria,' Europol said in a statement. Some of the rifles that were seized 'This legal situation is often misused by criminals to assemble weapons with parts obtained from various sources. 'After the arrest of the two individuals residing in Austria and the seizure of 50 handguns by the Belgian police, the Austrian Directorate State Protection and Intelligence Service was able to determine that the grips of these weapons were purchased in Austria. 'Subsequently, house searches were carried out at the residences of those arrested, as a result of which several data storage devices were seized.' Europol said they supported the national investigations with operational analysis and coordinated the international cooperation. On the action day conducted in Belgium, a Europol expert was deployed with a mobile office to provide cross-checks of new evidence against Europol's databases.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Business
- Sunday World
Dutch officials demand record $250m from fugitive drug lord hiding in Africa
The fugitive drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, also known as Bolle Jos or 'Chubby Jos', is believed to be in Sierra Leone Leijdekkers is also known as Bolle Jos or 'Chubby Jos" Dutch prosecutors are to confiscate a record $250 million from one of Europe's most-wanted criminals. The fugitive drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, also known as Bolle Jos or 'Chubby Jos', is believed to be hiding over 4,000 miles away in Sierra Leone. Leijdekkers is believed to have made €114m from 14 cocaine shipments in less than a year. As well as real estate including a hotel in Turkey and apartments in Dubai, public prosecutors say the 33-year-old also spent €47m on 975 kilograms of gold in less than six months. Intercepted communications point to other luxury goods hoovered up by the drugs kingpin, including two Bentley cars, designer bags, jewellery and watches. There are all added to the total of illicit assets, bringing the total to $253 million, which is 'only a first step towards tracing Leijdekkers' assets,' prosecutors have said Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison for ordering a murder and organising cocaine shipments by a Rotterdam court last June. The fugitive drug trafficker, Jos Leijdekkers, pictured in Sierra Leone News in 90 June 4th Considered to be 'one of the key players in international cocaine trafficking," according to Europol, he is on their most-wanted list, with the European police body offering over $225,000 for information leading to his arrest. Dutch authorities said they were "absolutely certain" he was hiding out in Sierra Leone last January, when the BBC reported that Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruin said the fugitive's return to the Netherlands was of "the highest priority." Suspicions he was in Sierra Leone arose after the country's first lady Fatima Bio posted pictures and a video on social media that showed a man strongly resembling Leijdekkers at a religious service. Images apparently showing Leijdekkers in the company of officials as high as President Julius Maada Bio and his daughter prompted exiled Sierra Leone opposition figure Mohamed Mansaray to accused Bio and his government of "offering refuge" to the drug lord. According to Mansaray, Leijdekkers has coupled up with the president's daughter Agnes Bio, who is seen accompanying the drug lord in the images. Leijdekkers is also known as Bolle Jos or 'Chubby Jos" Europol also believe that Leijdekkers was involved in the disappearance and death of Naima Jillal, a woman who went missing in 2019 after she got into a car in Amsterdam Intercepted messages allegedly showed that Leijdekkers "played an important role in Jillal's disappearance," the agency said. "For a long time, there was no trace of Naima Jillal, until photos of a woman believed to be her were found on a phone seized in the Marengo investigation," Europol said. "The photos show that she was most likely tortured and is probably no longer alive." In April, we reported how journalists were being actively bribed and threatened to stop reporting on Leijdekkers. Several reporters, who are in hiding, told John van den Heuvel, a journalist for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, that the government of Sierra Leone had offered them sums of up to €5,000 to cease the publication of details about their connection to the most wanted person in the Netherlands. Reporters who are not accepting the money are being threatened. The journalists have said that €5k is 'unprecedentedly high by African standards' which to them indicates how important it is to those in power that the story is kept quiet. Fearing for their lives and the lives of their loved ones, some reporters have fled the country. One journalist who has applied for political asylum in the United States told De Telegraaf: 'There is no freedom of the press in our country. 'Our government, including the president, facilitates the criminal group to which Leijdekkers belongs. 'Journalists no longer dare to write about the matter. It is extremely dangerous.' Bolle Jos, which means 'Tubby Jos' in Dutch, is hiding in the African country while on the run and according to investigative journalists at Follow The Money, he was filmed handing Alusine Kanneh, the country's head of immigration, a birthday present in March. The publication says that according to 'well-placed sources' the 33-year-old is in a relationship with Agnes Bio, who is the daughter of president Julius Maada Bio. De Telegraaf further reported she is pregnant with his child. They also report that the Sierra Leone government has 'barely responded' to several diplomatic and legal assistance requests made by the Netherlands as they try to extradite the man Europol once described as 'one of the key players in international cocaine smuggling'. Following the media storm around Jos Leijdekkers' presence in Sierra Leone, the government released a press statement that claimed the president had 'no knowledge of the identity and the issues detailed in the reports about the individual in question.' They further claimed to launch a 'transparent and through investigation' to establish the facts. A month later the Inspector General of Police (IGP), William Fayia Sellu, claimed that following an investigation, they found the man accused of being Leijdekkers, is actually a man named Omarr Sheriff. It is unclear if Jos is living under an assumed name or if they're claiming it's a case of mistaken identity. Bolle Jos' wife Hanane is also looking for him as she wants her son, who has been living with him illegally for the last two years, returned to her.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Gardaí join Europol operation tackling rise in 'child radicalisation' online
Gardaí have taken part in a European police operation targeting the exploitation and radicalization of children online. The operation was coordinated by Europol, the EU police agency, and involved 11 member states and five other countries not in the EU, including Britain and Ukraine. The so-called 'Referral Action Day' identified more than 2,000 links pointing to 'jihadist and right-wing violent extremist and terrorist propaganda' targeting minors. Europol said the action day comes just a few weeks after it set up a new operational taskforce to tackle 'the rising trend' of online groups recruiting young perpetrators into serious and organised crime. The taskforce has identified trends in online propaganda to attract younger people, typically combining images and videos of children with extremist messaging. They have also found guidance to parents that have been radicalized in how to raise 'future jihadists'. Europol said: 'One of the key observations that led to this coordinated action is the use of AI, particularly in the creation of images, text and videos designed to resonate with younger audiences. 'Propagandists invest in content, short videos, memes, and other visual formats, carefully stylised to appeal to minors and families that may be susceptible to extremist manipulation, as well as content incorporating gaming elements with terrorist audio and visual material.' It said that other material include the 'glorification' of minors involved in terrorist attacks. In this regard, terrorist propaganda predominantly targets male minors, manipulating them into joining extremist groups by promoting heroic narratives that portray them as 'warriors' and the 'hope' of society'. It said female minors are referenced less frequently, with their roles largely confined to raising and indoctrinating future 'fighters' for the cause. Europol said that another manipulation technique that has been 'worrying' for the past years is the increased use of victimhood narratives, particularly imagery of wounded or killed children in conflict zones. 'This manipulation serves a dual purpose: it fosters emotional identification with the victims while simultaneously inciting a desire for retaliation and further violence,' Europol said. It said that in 2024, law enforcement authorities in EU member states worked on a 'large number of terrorism-related cases involving minors'. It said that Europol's Counter Terrorism Centre supports member states in preventing and investigating the dissemination of terrorist content online. Europol executive director Catherine De Bolle, said: 'Terrorist groups are increasingly targeting young people, exploiting their vulnerabilities but also their abilities to manage online capabilities to advance violent and extremist agendas." Strong collaboration between public authorities and private sector partners is essential to prevent the radicalisation of minors into harming themselves and our society. Ireland isn't part of the operational taskforce established at the end of April. It is being led by Sweden, which has seen a rise in the use of children to carry out violent acts for gangs for a fee – up to and including murder. Europol said: 'Young people are being deliberately targeted and recruited to commit a wide range of crimes — from drug trafficking and cyber-attacks to online fraud and violent extortion. Recruitment is often highly strategic, exploiting vulnerabilities and glamorising a luxurious, violent lifestyle. 'Social media platforms and messaging apps are used to reach young people through coded language, memes and gamified tasks. In return for money, status or a sense of belonging, they are drawn into criminal schemes that are both violent and transnational.' It addition to Sweden, other countries in the taskforce are Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and non-EU member Norway. Last February, Europol issued an alert on a related issue, highlighting online groups and so-called online 'grooming cult groups' that are targeting vulnerable young people to join networks that share extremely violent material. Read More Gardaí seize devices with child sexual abuse material as part of international operation
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Prosecutors seek record $250 million from fugitive drug lord
Dutch prosecutors said Monday they were seeking to confiscate a record $253 million from one of Europe's most notorious drug lords, thought to be hiding in Sierra Leone. The illegal assets amassed by Jos Leijdekkers, also known as "Bolle Jos" or "Chubby Jos," were proceeds from cocaine trafficking, as well as purchases of gold and luxury items, the public prosecutors said. Leijdekkers is thought to have made 114 million euros from 14 cocaine shipments over less than a year. According to intercepted communications, the 33-year-old also spent 47 million euros on 975 kilograms of gold over less than six months. The kingpin additionally bought real estate including a hotel in Turkey and apartments in Dubai, the prosecutors alleged. Luxury goods including two Bentley cars, designer bags, jewellery and watches, were also added to the total of illicit assets, bringing the total to $253 million. "This is... only a first step towards tracing Leijdekkers' assets," the prosecutors said. A Rotterdam court last June sentenced Leijdekkers in absentia to 24 years in prison for ordering a murder and organizing cocaine shipments. He is on Europol's most-wanted list, with the European police body offering over $225,000 for information leading to his arrest. "Leijdekkers is considered to be one of the key players in international cocaine trafficking," according to Europol. In January, Dutch authorities said they were "absolutely certain" he was hiding out in Sierra Leone. The BBC reported that Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruin said the fugitive's return to the Netherlands was of "the highest priority." Images apparently showing Leijdekkers in the company of officials as high as President Julius Maada Bio have sparked speculation the cocaine lord has cozied up to Sierra Leone's political class -- including the president's daughter. Suspicions he was in Sierra Leone arose after the country's First Lady Fatima Bio posted pictures and a video on social media that showed a man strongly resembling Leijdekkers at a religious service, also attended by President Bio. Exiled Sierra Leone opposition figure Mohamed Mansaray has accused Bio and his government of "offering refuge" to the drug lord. According to Mansaray, Leijdekkers has coupled up with the president's daughter Agnes Bio, who is seen accompanying the drug lord in the images. Leijdekkers is also believed to be involved in the disappearance and death of Naima Jillal, a woman who went missing in 2019 after she got into a car in Amsterdam, according to Europol. Intercepted messages allegedly showed that Leijdekkers "played an important role in Jillal's disappearance," the agency said. "For a long time, there was no trace of Naima Jillal, until photos of a woman believed to be her were found on a phone seized in the Marengo investigation," Europol said. "The photos show that she was most likely tortured and is probably no longer alive." January 6 defendant refuses Trump's pardon The wonderfully weird world of artist Luigi Serafini Everything we know about the Boulder attack on Israeli hostage march
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Dutch prosecutors seek record $250 million from fugitive drug lord believed to be hiding over 4,000 miles away
Dutch prosecutors said Monday they were seeking to confiscate a record $253 million from one of Europe's most notorious drug lords, thought to be hiding in Sierra Leone. The illegal assets amassed by Jos Leijdekkers, also known as "Bolle Jos" or "Chubby Jos," were proceeds from cocaine trafficking, as well as purchases of gold and luxury items, the public prosecutors said. Leijdekkers is thought to have made 114 million euros from 14 cocaine shipments over less than a year. According to intercepted communications, the 33-year-old also spent 47 million euros on 975 kilograms of gold over less than six months. The kingpin additionally bought real estate including a hotel in Turkey and apartments in Dubai, the prosecutors alleged. Luxury goods including two Bentley cars, designer bags, jewellery and watches, were also added to the total of illicit assets, bringing the total to $253 million. "This is... only a first step towards tracing Leijdekkers' assets," the prosecutors said. Convicted cocaine smuggler Jos Leijdekkers attends a church service in Tihun, Sierra Leone, January 1, 2025, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. First Lady Fatima Maada Bio via Facebook/via REUTERS A Rotterdam court last June sentenced Leijdekkers in absentia to 24 years in prison for ordering a murder and organizing cocaine shipments. He is on Europol's most-wanted list, with the European police body offering over $225,000 for information leading to his arrest. "Leijdekkers is considered to be one of the key players in international cocaine trafficking," according to Europol. In January, Dutch authorities said they were "absolutely certain" he was hiding out in Sierra Leone. The BBC reported that Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruin said the fugitive's return to the Netherlands was of "the highest priority." Images apparently showing Leijdekkers in the company of officials as high as President Julius Maada Bio have sparked speculation the cocaine lord has cozied up to Sierra Leone's political class -- including the president's daughter. Suspicions he was in Sierra Leone arose after the country's First Lady Fatima Bio posted pictures and a video on social media that showed a man strongly resembling Leijdekkers at a religious service, also attended by President Bio. Exiled Sierra Leone opposition figure Mohamed Mansaray has accused Bio and his government of "offering refuge" to the drug lord. According to Mansaray, Leijdekkers has coupled up with the president's daughter Agnes Bio, who is seen accompanying the drug lord in the images. Leijdekkers is also believed to be involved in the disappearance and death of Naima Jillal, a woman who went missing in 2019 after she got into a car in Amsterdam, according to Europol. Intercepted messages allegedly showed that Leijdekkers "played an important role in Jillal's disappearance," the agency said. "For a long time, there was no trace of Naima Jillal, until photos of a woman believed to be her were found on a phone seized in the Marengo investigation," Europol said. "The photos show that she was most likely tortured and is probably no longer alive."
