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Within the framework of the biggest operation against trafficking of refrigerant gases (Operation Verbena), Spanish authorities were able to dismantle a criminal organisation that illicitly traded and smuggled the gases. The business is lucrative since the import of refrigerant gases (also called F-gases …

During the Joint Action Day “Arktos 3” carried out in June 2021, law enforcement authorities in seven EU Member States succeeded in seizing more than 6.7 million cigarettes, and 2.6 tonnes of raw tobacco, along with half a tonne of illegal drugs. 15 smugglers were …

With the support of OLAF, law enforcement authorities in Spain, the Netherlands, Honduras, and Guatemala succeeded in stopping the activities of a criminal group that smuggled fake rum from Central America via the Netherlands to Spain. OLAF reported on 6 July 2021 that the network …

On 22 July 2021, OLAF reported on a successful strike against a criminal network that illegally produced and sold cigarettes. The operation dubbed “Alecrín” mainly involved Spanish and Portuguese law enforcement authorities and already started in 2019. Targeted enforcement activities were carried out between May …

In a study for the EP’s LIBE Committee, Niovi Vavoula and Valsamis Mitsilegas from Queen Mary University of London assessed the Commission’s proposal on strengthening Europol’s mandate (→ eucrim 4/2020, 279). The study (published in May 2021) provides the EP with background information …

As a result of one of the largest operations against encrypted criminal activities at the beginning of June 2021, 800 suspects were arrested and over $48 million in various worldwide currencies and cryptocurrencies seized. Operation “TF Greenlight/Trojan Shield” was conducted by the US Federal …

This news items summarises the main recent developments regarding the rule of law in EU countries other than Poland and Hungary.

A study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the JURI Committee recommended that the EU takes a legislative initiative with a view to stemming the flow of litigation which is intended to suppress public participation in matters of public interest, so that the growing phenomenon of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation” (SLAPPs) can be curbed.

In the framework of a reference for a preliminary ruling by a Slovak court, the CJEU has to deal with the question whether the EU-wide ne bis in idem principle precludes the issuance of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) when an amnesty had been granted. …

The European Parliament and the Council adopted the Regulation addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online. It aims to curb the dissemination of contents by terrorists who intend to spread their messages, radicalise and recruit followers, and facilitate and direct terrorist activities. Criticism on this piece of legislation continue in the public debate.