Operation Archimedes: 34 countries against transnational crime
Between September 15 and 23, law enforcement authorities from 35 countries, namely all 28 EU Member States plus Australia, Colombia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and the USA, joined forces in Operation Archimedes, coordinated by Europol.
It was carried out within the framework of the EMPACT - Joint action days (JAD) projects, strongly supported by the Italian Presidency of the EU Council, with the aim of ensuring a more effective action against serious international and organized crime.
Operation Archimedes saw the participation of over one thousand law enforcement officers of the countries involved, who delivered a concerted action across Europe. Italy participated with the Central Directorates for Antidrug Services, Immigration, and Communications Police, along with the Guardia di Finanza and the Carabinieri, in cooperation with Eurojust, Frontex and Interpol.
Interventions took place in several locations including airports, border-crossing points, ports and crime hot spots in towns and cities. A total of 1,027 persons were arrested. Huge quantities of drugs were seized and counterfeit goods and medicines recovered.
The results from the operational actions were announced this morning in The Hague. The Police Chief Alessandro Pansa and his Deputies Francesco Cirillo and Matteo Piantedosi were in attendance. At the press conference, which was held in conjunction with the opening day of the European Police Chiefs Convention, Prefect Pansa expressed his great satisfaction with the outcomes of Operation Archimedes.
In particular, he praised "the validity of the law enforcement strategy focused on disrupting facilitators of illegal immigration and traffickers in human beings, drug traffickers, organized crime groups involved in goods counterfeiting and cybercrime".
"This operation, which resulted from an effective planning activity and the exact definition of common goals, has fully responded to the objectives identified initially. All Member States endorsed the project with enthusiasm and determination in order to deliver concerted action against organised crime groups in Europe."
"Organized crime" added Prefect Pansa, "is taking on characteristics which go beyond a specific national identity. It rather has a transnational nature and is characterized by dynamism and flexibility. As a result, law enforcement action can no longer be exercised within national boundaries only, but rather it increasingly needs cooperation, interaction, and synergy."
Sergio Foffo