FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Europol has cracked down on a group of hitmen who were hired by a criminal network to kidnap the leader of a rival drug trafficking gang.
The hitmen were highly trained and equipped with professional equipment and were operating on behalf of an organized crime group. They had been contracted to kidnap the leader of an Albanian drug trafficking ring, who is suspected of orchestrating the theft of several tons of cannabis worth millions of euros.
The operation involved law enforcement authorities from Denmark, France, Latvia and the United Kingdom. The coordinated action focused on Latvian nationals, some of whom had experience in the French Foreign Legion. During the action, four individuals were arrested in Denmark, France, Latvia and the United Kingdom, while two others, who had been arrested in October 2024 in Germany, have already been convicted by the courts.
Europol also raises the alarm about the involvement of elite or state-trained military forces with criminal groups in exchange for large sums of money.
“This operation is linked to the phenomenon of ‘Violence as a Service’, in which perpetrators offer their services to carry out violent acts on behalf of other criminal syndicates. In this particular case, highly trained specialists are employed by organised crime groups to carry out violent acts. This modus operandi is increasingly being uncovered in various operations linked to serious and organised crime. The investigation of the perpetrators’ activities highlights the high level of this service, as it often involves the use of former members of special forces.
Some of the suspects in this case are former soldiers of the French Foreign Legion. This represents an alarming trend emerging from the war in Ukraine. Former combat-trained soldiers returning from the front may be using their skills for organised crime, posing a potential threat. As the war in Ukraine continues and potentially intensifies in its aftermath, Europe could face an increasing number of these well-trained individuals engaging in criminal activities. It is essential to monitor this development and prepare for the potential security challenges it poses ,” Europol said.
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