Europol’s press service told newspaper VG that Norway was one of the countries that participated in an international police operation against organized crime named “Trojan Shield.”
A total of 16 countries participated in the action, according to the newspaper. Kripos told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that Norway is part of the international police operation.
Europol described the operation as a major effort “against some of the world’s foremost criminals.”
“I can confirm that Norway has been involved,” Jonas Fabritius Christoffersen of Kripos told NTB.
International effort
The operation is said to have been ongoing since 2018. The Australian Federal Police (AFP), together with the US FBI, has secretly operated an encrypted communication platform called ANoM, where the actors have communicated.
More than 11,000 people used the app, and the authorities were reportedly able to read as many as 25 million messages in real-time.
Police operations were also carried out in the United States and Europe, the Australian broadcaster ABC wrote on Monday.
More than 800 people arrested
More than 800 people have been arrested around the world in the police operation – one of the largest and most sophisticated operations ever.
More than 700 places have been searched, and large quantities of drugs have been seized, Deputy Director-General Jean-Philippe Lecouffe of Europol said at a press conference on Tuesday morning. Among other things, eight tonnes of cocaine hidden in containers with bananas and cans were seized.
The operation has been going on since 2018. According to the FBI, more than 100 lives have been saved.
Anom was used by more than 300 criminal networks in over 100 countries, according to Lecouffe.
In Sweden, 155 people have been arrested in actions in seven police regions, Police Commissioner Linda Staaf in the Swedish police said.
Kripos: Seven people arrested in Norway
Seven people have been arrested in Norway, Kripos stated.
Since February, the Norwegian police have received information from the American authorities about serious criminal activity in Norway.
This information has been processed and forwarded to relevant police districts.
“As a result of the information, seven people have been arrested in different districts, charged with serious drug crime. Significant seizures of drugs and money have been made,” police attorney Morten Stene in Kripos noted.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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Outstanding!
Well done, kripos. Tusen takk.