Major Europe-wide Operation Nets Four Arrests in New Psychoactive Substances Ring
In a major international operation, four arrest warrants were executed across Europe, targeting a suspected ring involved in the smuggling and sale of new psychoactive substances. The coordinated action, supported by local forces and the Federal Criminal Police Office, resulted in the search of multiple premises and significant seizures.
The investigation, led by the Joint Investigation Group Narcotics North Bavaria, uncovered a complex network operating across several countries. A 55-year-old German man, initially based in Portugal and later in Lower Saxony, acted as a partner in the operation. A key suspect, a 40-year-old German man, is believed to have orchestrated the smuggling of illegal substances from China to North Rhine-Westphalia on a quarterly basis. His former partner, a 33-year-old Brazilian woman, is suspected of aiding the operation by opening straw accounts.
A 34-year-old British man handled customer support, webshop maintenance, and payment processing for the group, which is suspected of generating millions in profits. The network used shell companies and strawman accounts to facilitate their illegal activities. The operation resulted in the seizure of written records, data carriers, mobile phones, a high-value sports car, a sailing boat, and 110 ampoules of a powder-like substance.
The arrests were made in Portugal, the United Kingdom, Lower Saxony, and the Netherlands, marking a significant success in the fight against commercial smuggling of new psychoactive substances.
The international cooperation and coordinated effort have led to a substantial disruption of the suspected criminal network. The seized items and evidence will now be analyzed to further dismantle the operation and bring those responsible to justice. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details have been released at this time.
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