International raid: 200 arrests in the drug war in Europe!

International raid: 200 arrests in the drug war in Europe!

On April 15, 2025, an international raid against organized crime, in which several countries were involved, led to a massive arrest of over 200 people. The operation illustrates the ongoing challenge, which is cross -border organized crime. According to vienna.at , a total of 234 high-ranking members of a criminal group were targeted by the investigators. Nine arrests were made abroad, including in Germany, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The raids extended over several European countries. In these operations, 21.2 tons of drugs were confiscated, which were transported to Europe and Turkey from all over the world. The drug species included cocaine, heroin and cannabis, with the suspects being charged with drug trafficking and money laundering.

cooperation against organized crime

The Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya commented on the international structure of crime and emphasized the need to combat these crimes together. The Federal Foreign Office emphasizes that the combat of the cross-border organized crime is a major challenge for the international community. The main business areas include drug trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking.

Germany supports the fight against organized crime through bilateral measures and cooperation within the EU. It is particularly noteworthy that Germany has used connecting officers from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) to numerous messages and is a member of international committees such as the "Financial Action Taskforce (FATF)", which has achieved essential recommendations to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

global challenges

The effects of organized crime, especially in countries with fragile government structures, are serious and can threaten the stability of the international order. The pressure on the international community is growing to develop effective strategies. The fact that essential agreements, such as the UN Convention to combat cross-border organized crime (Untoc), have to focus more on national and international cooperation is undisputed.

The United Nations Office for Drug and Crime Constitution (UNODC) in Vienna plays a crucial role here. It is supported by the federal government and helps to find practical solutions to these challenges. Further information on the international efforts can be found in the comprehensive report of the EU Commission: here .