Europe-wide strike against trafficker gang – Austria
More than 103,000 checks, 216 arrests and the confiscation of 66 stolen vehicles are the results of the Joint Action Days “Trivium XVII”.
From November 22, 2022 to November 24, the Europe-wide Joint Action Days (JAD) “TRIVIUM XVII” took place in 18 countries to take joint action against mobile organized crime. European countries and Europol worked together during the three-day operation, with hundreds of police officers taking part in dozens of operations every day across Europe focused on surveillance, seizure and information-sharing and arrests.
goal of the action
Targets, also targets of the concerted police action, are roving polycriminal groups committing various crimes such as: B. Shoplifting and cargo theft, home and business burglary, fraud, pickpocketing, fuel theft, and car theft and burglary. Due to the current migration situation and the massive shift in criminal energy in the direction of smuggling, which is lucrative for the gangs, this type of offense is increasingly being added to the regular TRIVIUM target definition.
Federal Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner: “Consistent dragging and resolute action against the mafia is more important than ever. Since the beginning of the year, the specialists of the Federal Criminal Police Office have managed to arrest more than 630 people smugglers. I would like to thank the investigators for their exemplary commitment and dedication. As part of the criminal service reform, a special focus will be placed on further development, especially in the area of combating people smuggling.”
balance sheet in Austria
In total, more than 39,000 vehicles and 64,000 people were checked across Europe as part of Trivium, many of them on the basis of tips. As a result of these checks, at least 66 vehicles were confiscated, at least 216 suspects arrested and numerous other items, including motor vehicles, weapons, money and drugs, totaling €771,000 were seized. Based on the results of TRIVIUM XVII, the police authorities across Europe can initiate thousands of investigations.
In Austria, the Federal Criminal Police Office and various units of the nine provincial police departments, including the provincial criminal investigation offices, were involved in the operation. Several hundred police officers were on duty here alone for TRIVIUM XVII, who carried out daily focal points at various border crossings and the main traffic routes. Across Austria, 2,260 people and 1,355 vehicles were checked and 17 people arrested. The majority of arrests were made in the areas of people smuggling and property crime.
Participating States
The TRIVIUM Days of Action are an outgrowth of the need for cross-border, pan-European criminal police cooperation to better combat the polycriminal gangs roaming Europe.
Due to its great success, the campaign takes place regularly, always with clear positive results. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the third country Albania took part in the operation.
Empact
Through EMPACT-OPC (Organized Property Crime), countries take action against international mobile banditry, exchange information and conduct international criminal investigations. EMPACT is an intra-EU partnership in which EU Member States structurally cooperate in the fight against organized crime.
EMPACT is an acronym for: European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Crime Threats. Europol and Eurojust support the EMPACT projects.