Europol Disrupts Weapons Smuggling Network

Law enforcement agencies across several European nations have successfully dismantled a criminal organization involved in the smuggling of assault rifles and grenades. According to Europol, the European Union's law enforcement agency, seven individuals were arrested in March during coordinated raids conducted in France, Spain, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

These suspects are accused of transporting weapons from illegal markets in the Western Balkans to France for further distribution. Europol reported that the main suspect remains at large and is currently being pursued by Bosnian authorities.

The operation was a collaborative effort involving police and judicial authorities from multiple countries, leading to the disruption of the weapons supply chain. During the investigation, which began in September 2023, law enforcement in Slovenia discovered a vehicle loaded with firearms and ammunition intended for delivery to France. The vehicle, which was towing a caravan, was intercepted in Austria.

Authorities uncovered a significant cache of 25 AK-type assault rifles, 126 hand grenades, 25 kilograms of ammunition for the AK rifles, as well as a machine gun and a pistol. The driver of the vehicle, a citizen of Slovenia, was apprehended. Utilizing phone records from this individual, investigators were able to uncover a broader network that included suspects located in France, Serbia, and Spain.

This operation highlights the ongoing efforts by European law enforcement to combat the illegal arms trade, which poses significant risks to public safety and security across the continent. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to track down additional individuals linked to the smuggling operations.