Europol has announced the arrest of 132 members of the 'Ndrangheta, a powerful criminal network responsible for much of Europe's cocaine trade, money laundering, bribery, and violence. The operation involved 2,770 officers from 10 countries and is being described as the "largest-ever coordinated hit" against the 'Ndrangheta. The raids took place in eight European countries, as well as Brazil and Panama, and is a major step in the fight against organized crime.
Posts tagged as “Belgium”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed grave concern over the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia on espionage charges, and has called for his immediate release. The Journal and Dow Jones have denied the unsubstantiated allegations and the U.S. government is closely monitoring the situation, with the safety and security of American citizens around the world a top priority.
On Saturday, Belgian goalkeeper Arne Espeel tragically died after collapsing during a match for his amateur team Winkel Sport B. He had saved a penalty kick and was celebrating before collapsing, and emergency services were unable to revive him. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of death.
An international team of investigators has found "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of heavy anti-aircraft weapons to Ukrainian separatists who shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014. The Joint Investigation Team has collected a large amount of evidence, including witness statements, intercepted phone calls, satellite images and videos, and identified the exact location from which the missile was launched. However, the team has insufficient evidence to prosecute Putin or any other suspects and has suspended their 8½-year inquiry into the shooting down that killed all 298 people on board.
An international team of investigators have released a statement claiming that there are "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of heavy anti-aircraft weapons to Ukrainian separatists who shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014. The Joint Investigation Team noted that although there are strong indications that Putin was involved in the decision, the "high bar of full and conclusive evidence is not met." The team is composed of representatives from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, and Ukraine and is expected to release its final report in the coming months.