Operation Desert Light: Europol take down massive cocaine 'super cartel'

A cause "super cartel" that controlled astir a 3rd of Europe's cocaine proviso has been dismantled, constabulary person announced.

Dubbed Operation Desert Light, 49 radical were arrested crossed six European countries, the EU's constabulary agency, Europol, said.

They included a British national, who is suspected of heading the operation.

Over 30 tonnes (30,000kg) of drugs were seized during the two-year-long investigation, Europol said.

Operation Desert Light saw authorities successful Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) enactment unneurotic to bring down the cartel, Europol said successful a statement.

Those arrested included six "high-value targets" - those astir wanted by planetary police.

Europol said the "drugpins" had formed a "prolific transgression web progressive successful large-scale drugs trafficking and wealth laundering."

It added that the standard of the cause cognition was "massive".

It is the latest successful a bid of constabulary efforts to hack encrypted phones utilized by organised transgression networks to postulation drugs and launder money.

Cocaine imported from South America via the Netherlands was the main absorption of the investigation, and astir of the arrests were made determination successful 2021.

The others were made earlier this month, betwixt 8-19 November, during coordinated raids crossed the different six countries, Europol said.

A video posted to the agency's YouTube leafage showed teams of investigators and sniffer dogs searching homes filled with luxury cars, though it is unclear if immoderate assets were seized during the arrests.

The British antheral suspected of heading the "super cartel" fled to Dubai aft avoiding apprehension successful Spain, the country's Guardia Civil said successful a statement.

He allegedly continued to pb the cartel from the UAE.

An anonymous Europol root told the AFP quality bureau that different "big fish" Dutch suspect, with alleged links to high-profile Dutch transgression brag Ridouan Taghi, was besides detained.

Dutch prosecutors said they would petition the extradition of the suspects from the UAE who present look large-scale cause trafficking and wealth laundering charges.

Analysts accidental information from the past decennary suggests entree to cocaine successful Europe is increasing yearly.

Offences related to cocaine usage oregon possession are besides rising, with an estimated 3.5 cardinal adults consuming the cause successful the past year.

The packaged marijuana recovered was equivalent to astir 1.1 cardinal plants.