49 suspects arrested as Europol takes down cocaine super cartel, Bulgaria's CDCOC participated in the operation

Two years of investigation by Europol led to the disruption of a "super cartel" supplying a third of the continent with cocaine. A total of 49 suspects have been arrested during the course of this investigation in several countries. Officers from the Chief Directorate for Combating Organised Crime also took part in the operation in Spain.

30 tonnes of cocaine were seized and 49 people were arrested, six of whom were high-ranking members of the super cartel.

"The arrests are an example of an international operation against the most dangerous organised crime groups," said Jan Op Gen Oorth, Europol spokesperson.

Arrests were made in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, the United Arab Emirates. Among those arrested is a British national who is believed to have led the cartel. In recent years he lived in Dubai and before that in Spain.

"The global cocaine trade is organised by huge networks working together. It is no longer about one group. And this is extremely dangerous because they are very resourceful, fast and operate outside the jurisdiction of the European Union," the Europol spokesperson added.

The cocaine was mainly transported from South America and imported into Europe via the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Drug experts are sceptical about the effect the arrests will have on the drug market in Europe. Europol, however, described the operation as a serious warning to the entire criminal world.

"Until now the Emirates have been a safe haven for criminals, but that time is over. We now have excellent cooperation with the police in Dubai, so criminals have to look elsewhere to hide," said Jan Op Gen Oorth.

Over the past decade, cocaine intake in Europe has increased dramatically. According to statistics, 3 and a half million people on the continent used cocaine last year.

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