15/07/2022 11:58 | Press release | Fighting organised crime: coordinated action on 10 priorities leads to 31 000 arrests between 2018-2021

 

Press material Friday 15 July 2022

● Council of the EU   15/07/2022 11:58 | Press release | Fighting organised crime: coordinated action on 10 priorities leads to 31 000 arrests between 2018-2021   The European multi-disciplinary platform against criminal threats (EMPACT) closed its 2018-2021 cycle with tangible results in the fight against organised crime. These include: 17 723 international investigations and operations 31 584 people arrested 171 tons of drugs seized 18 085 potential victims of trafficking and child sexual exploitation identified "Cross border criminal organisations are a threat to the security of all European citizens and the only way to stop them is by working closely together. The results of the 2018-2021 cycle are proof of our joint commitment and determination to bring criminals to justice. We will continue this work through the new EMPACT cycle that has just started." Vít Rakušan, Czech Minister of the Interior EMPACT tackles the most important threats posed by organised and serious international crime affecting the EU. It strengthens intelligence, strategic and operational cooperation between national authorities, EU institutions and bodies, and international partners. EMPACT runs in four-year cycles focusing on common EU crime priorities. The 10 priorities for the 2018-2021 period were cybercrime, drugs trafficking, facilitation of illegal immigration, organised theft and burglary, trafficking in human beings, excise and missing trader intra community fraud, firearms trafficking, environmental crime, criminal finances and document fraud. Full summary of results 2018-2021 (from page 43) The EU's fight against organised crime (background information)