Europol Busts Crime Syndicates With Nigerian Link

Police forces from 52 countries arrested over 300 people and swooped on red-light districts to bust several trafficking gangs in a week-long, round-the-clock operation, Europol said Wednesday.

The action led by the European police agency focused “on disrupting the most dangerous criminal networks currently active” including those dealing in illegal immigration, people and drug trafficking and cybercrime.

The nationalities of those arrested as well as those rescued showed that “trafficking networks originating in Nigeria, Asia and Eastern Europe are the most active in the EU”.

Some 529 victims of trafficking were found in brothels and massage parlours, a total of 314 people arrested and about 2.4 tonnes of cocaine was seized.

Operation Ciconia Alba was coordinated by Europol from its headquarters in The Hague in what it called “a major blow to organised crime groups operating across the European Union and beyond.”

Raids “targeted red-light districts, brothels, massage parlours, private apartments, airports and immigration reception centres,” the agency said in a statement.

A fake travel agency was uncovered in Greece and a total of 745 migrants were identified in the operation which also involved the European border agency Frontex, Interpol and Eurojust.

More than 540,000 people and vehicles were searched and checked and a total of 181,500 euros was seized.

The raids also aimed to crackdown on credit card fraud, and among those arrested were 140 people caught with airline tickets bought with stolen credit cards.

And in Austria, during a raid on an illegal brothel, police also uncovered a cannabis plantation.

“Countries and organisations across the globe working together as one entity is the modern response to borderless serious and organised crime,” said Europol chief Rob Wainwright.

Alongside all EU members, some 24 non-EU nations took part including Ecuador, Indonesia, Nigeria, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

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http://guardian.ng/news/europol-busts-crime-syndicates-with-nigerian-link/

Nigerian Army Busts Boko Haram Fuel, Ammunition Supply Chain

The Nigerian Army said it ambushed Boko Haram insurgents and killed a number of them while transporting fuel and various calibre of ammunition to their hideout.

A statement by the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, said the troops, while on operation at a cattle market on Wednesday morning, intercepted the insurgents and seized the supplies.

“In continuation of their clearance operations of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, troops of 212 Tank Battalion, 29 Task Force Brigade, early this morning laid an ambush on some Boko Haram elements at a major cattle market in Gwai Mainari around Mainok general area.

“The ambush party supported by a Quick Response Group (QRG), captured a Hilux vehicle containing 8 jerry cans of petroleum, oil and lubricants, large quantity of 7.62mm ammunitions, 127mm ammunitions and 4 AK-47 rifles, as well as 5 hand grenades.

“Some of the terrorists were killed while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

“It is important to note that more operational strategies are being employed to further flush out the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding in the North East,” the statement said.

Credit: PremiumTimes