LATEST: EU officials used suspicious transactions to dismantle cocaine trafficking network

Regulatory Watch News

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  SHIELD VI: Over 3.1 million pills seized in EU-wide action against counterfeit medicinal products

  OLAF

  February 26, 2026

  For the sixth consecutive year, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has facilitated the efforts of customs authorities from 14 EU Member States in Operation SHIELD VI, a coordinated crackdown against the illegal trade of medicines, anabolic steroids, doping substances, and unregulated food supplements.  OLAF played a coordinating role, working closely with customs authorities to facilitate the confiscation of over 3.1 million pills, 104,000 packages of illicit goods, 23,014 ampoules and flasks, and more than 1,000 kilograms of medicines, doping substances, food supplements and other unauthorised substances.  Many of these products may contain unknown or hazardous ingredients, incorrect dosages, or no active pharmaceutical components, meaning their consumption could lead to severe health complications.

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  Follow the money: cocaine trafficking network exposed through its financial trail

  Europol

  February 26, 2026

  An international criminal network laundering cocaine profits for Italian organised crime has been dismantled after investigators followed the money trail across Europe. What began as suspicious financial movements uncovered a sophisticated laundering system servicing members of the Camorra and the 'Ndrangheta. Behind shell companies, false invoicing and luxury investments, millions of euros in cocaine profits were being cleaned and reinvested across Europe.

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  College of the EPPO decision concerning the disciplinary procedure against the Bulgarian European Prosecutor

  European Public Prosecutor's Office

  February 26, 2026

  Today, the College of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) found the Bulgarian European Prosecutor guilty of serious misconduct, as detailed in the opinion of the Disciplinary Board, composed of high-ranking officials, or former officials, of the European institutions. Moreover, the College of the EPPO deferred its decision on the appropriate sanction as, considering the seriousness of the established breaches, and the high degree of responsibility of the function of European Prosecutor, it cannot be excluded that the sanction may be the dismissal of the European Prosecutor.