Operation Atlas Nexus: 157 tonnes of drugs seized, 490 coordinated arrests led from Liège
Liège federal judicial police coordinated the international operation Atlas Nexus, resulting in 490 arrests and 157 tonnes of drugs seized.
Liège federal police lead global crackdown on criminal networks
Three officers from the federal judicial police (PJF) in Liège led the international operation "Atlas Nexus", according to rtl.be. The tally is substantial: more than 490 people arrested and 157 tonnes of drugs seized across Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.
The operation targeted multiple forms of organised crime: drug trafficking, human trafficking and arms trafficking, document fraud and environmental offences. Two of the Belgian officers were physically stationed at a command centre in Trinidad and Tobago during the operations.
"I am very proud of my teams at the Liège PJF, who have been engaged in this project since 2022. Thanks to their sustained work, a significant blow has been struck against serious and organised crime on the international level," said François Farcy, director of the Liège PJF.
No arrests or direct seizures took place on Belgian soil, and no Belgian nationals are among the people arrested during this phase. Farcy nevertheless emphasises that the 157 tonnes of cocaine intercepted represent as many shipments that will not reach the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam or Dunkirk.
The operation is part of the European EMPACT platform, with member states defining priorities every four years. Belgium had put itself forward to lead action against the most threatening international criminal networks. In total, more than 8,680 police officers and members of judicial authorities from 34 countries took part in the initiative.
Source: Google News BE FR