Officers from 26 countries checked almost 290 000 entities, leading to the detection of 2 229 illegal entries.
Between 13 and 18 November 2023, law enforcement authorities across Europe joined forces to target firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, and high-risk criminal networks during coordinated EMPACT Joint Action Days South East Europe (EMPACT JAD SEE). In total, 26 countries across Europe, supported by Europol, Eurojust, Frontex, INTERPOL and a number of international structures*, took part in these large-scale coordinated operational activities.
The EMPACT Joint Action Days were planned based on an intelligence-led approach which saw police, customs, immigration agencies and border control agencies join forces. Spain coordinated the operational activities, while Europol coordinated the exchange of operational information between the parties involved.
The EMPACT Joint Action Days included intensified checks at the EU’s external borders and special operations in the countries involved. Police, gendarmerie, border guards, customs authorities and national units involved in combating organised crime across Europe cooperated in these EMPACT Joint Action Days. The intelligence-led approach and cross-border operational coordination involved joint efforts by more than 22 000 officers from the participating authorities. The operation was coordinated from an international coordination centre set up in Skopje, North Macedonia, where officers representing these authorities were present to facilitate international cooperation and respond to operational needs on the ground.
The information exchange led to the opening of 121 new cases against criminal networks. Europol coordinated the exchange of operational information during the EMPACT Joint Action Days and supported the operational coordination. Europol also deployed experts on the ground to provide real-time analytical support to field operatives. The Netherlands deployed two teams with special scanning equipment to border crossing points in Greece and Montenegro. Frontex deployed experts and equipment to the external borders.
Global results of the EMPACT JAD 2023
- 22 488 officers involved
- 163 investigations initiated
- 288 774 total entities checked
- 215 273 persons checked
- 67 277 vehicles checked
- 5 225 postal packages/parcels checked
- 999 premises searched
- 2 229 illegal entries detected
- 566 arrests (218 related to migrant smuggling, 186 related to drug trafficking, 69 related to firearms trafficking, 89 related to other crimes)
- 114 forged documents identified
- Seizures including:
- 310 weapons (84 automatic weapons, 65 pistols, 59 rifles, 22 grenade launchers, 16 revolvers, 7 carbine, 6 shotguns, 4 converted weapons, 2 air guns, other, 42 other)
- 20 206 pieces of ammunition
- Almost a tonne of drugs including 626 kg of cocaine, almost 300 kg cannabis, heroin and marijuana plants
Cyber patrolling coordinated with the JAD SEE 2023
Cyber patrolling was set up during the operational phase of the JAD SEE 2023 between 13 and 18 November 2023. The cyber patrolling focused on monitoring and investigative activities on different websites, forums and marketplaces on the clear and dark web as well as on messaging applications and social media networks. The operational activities were aimed at detecting the illicit trafficking of firearms and collecting further information on the identified targets. The online investigations also focused on re-enactment activities that could assist the operational actions on the ground.
These investigations were conducted in native languages by officers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine. The officers carried out these activities in a synchronised manner, with the operational actions coordinated through the JAD Coordination Centre in Skopje, North Macedonia. During the cyber patrolling activities, investigators identified 120 targets (accounts and/or individuals) related to the trafficking of firearms, 94 of which were on a messaging application, 11 on marketplaces and 10 on other clear websites and 5 on the dark web.
Overall participants in all joint action days
EU Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Non-EU countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
EU agencies: Europol, Eurojust and Frontex.
International and institutional partners: EUBAM, IPA/2019 (EU co-funded projects: “EU Support to Strengthen the Fight against Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans” and “Countering serious crime in the Western Balkans), INTERPOL, PCC SEE (Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe Secretariat), SEESAC (South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons), SELEC (Southeast European Law Enforcement Center), UNDP and UNODC.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Source – Europol