More than 17 tonnes of cocaine destined for the UK and Europe have been seized after timed drug trafficking raids on two continents.
Fifteen suspects were arrested in Europe and South America and more than €80 million in assets confiscated.
The cocaine is estimated to have a street value of several billions of Euros.
Operation Hinterland ran for two years before simultaneous raids in Europe and South America brought down the entire criminal edifice.
Money launderers were also swept up in the operation.
The case started in Brazil after a tip-off from German Customs.
Working with law enforcement agencies in Europe intelligence officers mapped out the entire criminal network.
They searched 37 properties, made 15 arrests, seized 173 vehicles one plane, and froze the bank accounts 147 suspects and 66 companies.
A Europol statement said:
“The investigators were able to uncover how this Brazilian drug trafficking organisation was importing cocaine from Paraguay concealed in lorries, before exporting it to Europe.
“A first arrest was carried out in October 2022 by the Brazilian Federal Police.
“A priority target was arrested in Paraguay for his alleged involvement in running the logistics between Paraguay and Brazil and negotiating directly with the suppliers in Paraguay and Bolivia.
“The final rounds of arrests on 30 March were the culmination of many months of surveillance, intelligence gathering and co-ordination between the various law enforcement authorities involved in preparation for the action.”
Europol’s European Serious Organised Crime Centre brought together the countries involved to uncover the actual magnitude of the criminal activity, to establish a joint strategy and to organise the exchange of evidence needed to prepare for the final phase of the investigation.
