The defendants were arrested last April in Austria and Slovenia, during an international police operation codenamed “Spider Web.”

The top twelve organized crime activities in Bulgaria generate some BGN 3.5 B (EUR 1.7 B) annually, according to a report of the Sofia-based NGO Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD).

Eight people have been charged for their part in the “biggest ever” cocaine ring in Sweden, in which several tons of cocaine at a value of 4.5 billion kronor ($665 million) had been imported from Colombia.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute study reveals how arms dealers target western-owned maritime companies

But gardai believe former dissidents are still 'trading off' name in order to scare opponents

A senior official with Europol, the EU crime-busting agency, has voiced concern about "worrying" new trends in the illegal drugs market.

Men from Brazil, Santo Domingo, Paraguay stopped at Malpensa.

Called a "drug kingpin" by Turkish officials, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has long been suspected of substantial involvement in drug trafficking, which along with diaspora funding is believed to be a significant source of its income.

Swiss prosecutors on Friday said that they had uncovered a mafia organisation that has been involved in drug and arms trafficking as well as money laundering dating as far back as 1994.

The European Commission will propose today (25 October) new plans to tackle the growing use of drugs in Europe, with the intent of countering the spread of new substances and the use of legal chemicals in the production of drugs such as cocaine or heroin.