The local investigation quickly escalated after forensic analysis revealed that the phones seized had international contacts and were used to coordinate operations far beyond Sweden. 

The data analysed showed that it was not just one criminal group responsible for a drug trafficking and money laundering operation, but a network of several criminal groups connected through a web of companies. The members of the network in Thailand ran a large-scale online drug distribution business targeting customers in the Nordics. In Sweden, members were managing domestic drug distribution and laundering the criminal profits. In Spain, a high-value target was facilitating large scale drug trafficking.

Following the analysis of the phones, the immediate need for authorities to come together from around the world to stop the criminal operation became apparent. Eurojust enabled judicial authorities from five countries to meet, share information and plan strategic actions. The streamlined international cooperation, coordinated by Eurojust and Europol led to the first hits to the criminal network. German authorities seized a shipment of 1.2 tonnes of synthetic drugs destined for the Australian market. The two distributors who were waiting for the shipment to arrive were then identified and arrested in Australia. 

After the key roles within the network were identified, authorities prepared a targeted global operation. On 4 March, around 20 searches were executed in Spain, Sweden and Thailand, where 13 suspects were arrested. Important evidence including phones and documents were seized and will now be further analysed. 

The judicial cooperation through Eurojust started in early 2025 when the need for international coordination was identified by the Swedish Prosecution Authority. Two meetings at Eurojust in The Hague between Swedish, German, Spanish and Australian authorities were key to exchange information and set strategic plans to target the criminal network. To plan the action day, Eurojust ensured that several European Investigation Orders, European Arrest Warrants and Freezing Orders were prepared and distributed to several countries.  During the action day, Eurojust supported the national authorities with urgent changes to the action plans and to follow up on the results of the execution of legal requests.

Europol provided comprehensive, long-term support that was crucial to the success of this operation. This included advanced analytical cooperation and operational coordination, specialist expertise in areas such as cryptocurrency analysis, the development of tailored intelligence products and reports, and dedicated funding to enable complex cross-border investigative actions. By combining these capabilities, Europol ensured that local leads could be transformed into coordinated international operations against the highest levels of organised crime.

As criminal networks become more international and organise themselves in a less rigid and hierarchical way, investigations to find and prosecute the members of these networks are becoming more complex. Fast and efficient judicial cooperation across the globe is therefore key to tackling serious organised crime. Leading the investigation in Sweden, Senior Public Prosecutor Tove Kullberg commented on the international operation: “The support from Eurojust during the action day made things run smoothly. I found the support from Eurojust invaluable. “

The actions were carried out by the following authorities:

• Sweden: Swedish Prosecution Authority, National Unit Against organised crime; Swedish Economic Crime Authority; Swedish Police 
• Spain: Central Investigative Court nº 4; Anti-Drug Prosecutor’s Office; Guardia Civil - UCO Málaga and Balearic Islands; Judicial Police Unit of Catalonia