An investigation began with the seizure of two mobile phones in a small town in Sweden allowed authorities to uncover a vast international criminal network dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering.
The operation, coordinated by Europol and named Operation Candylasted for more than two years and ended with arrests and confiscation of assets in several countries.
The case began in November 2023, when Swedish authorities confiscated two cell phones from an alleged local trafficker.
What initially seemed like a minor case ended up revealing something much bigger. Encrypted communications, international contacts and logistical details were found on the phones that pointed to the existence of a powerful criminal organization.
From these clues, investigators reconstructed the functioning of a network dedicated mainly to the trafficking of synthetic drugs and the laundering of illicit profits. The group used companies registered in different countries to hide drug shipments, disguise the ownership of their businesses and channel illegally obtained money.
The investigation made it possible to detect activities related to this network in various parts of the world, including Germany, Spain, Sweden, Thailand and Australia.
From Europol they explain that the case reflects how organized crime currently works. According to the agency, it all started with something seemingly insignificant: two mobile phones confiscated in a small Swedish town. However, the content of these devices revealed an organization that moved large quantities of drugs between continents and hid its profits through encrypted companies and communication systems.
The international operation included the participation of security forces from Sweden, Spain and Australia. As a result of coordinated actions There were 13 arrests in Spain, Sweden and Thailand, in addition to the seizure of assets valued at around 4 million euros.
Authorities consider this case to be just a first step in the fight against increasingly globalized criminal networks.