Law enforcement agencies across Europe and Türkiye have dismantled four major drug trafficking networks in a multi-national operation coordinated by Europol. The investigation, called Operation Bulut, led to the arrest of 232 people and the seizure of over 21 tonnes of drugs, including 3.3 million MDMA tablets.
Raids took place on April 15 in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and 20 provinces in Türkiye. Turkish authorities arrested 225 people domestically and nine others abroad. Ten of those arrested were on Interpol’s red notice list.
Drug traffickers operating in Türkiye & Europe thought they could hide behind encrypted chats. Until now.
👮♂️ 232 suspects charged
🧩 4 powerful criminal networks dismantledOperation BULUT: Built on shared intelligence, backed by Europol.
🔗Learn more: https://t.co/1vEwXZ7cSL pic.twitter.com/id5xhy0pb1
— Europol (@Europol) April 15, 2025
The operation targeted large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and violent crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, and blackmail. It also reportedly disrupted the leadership and logistics of the criminal groups, which had been operating independently but with major influence on Europe’s drug trade.
The investigation reportedly used intelligence gathered from encrypted messaging platforms Sky ECC and ANOM. French police shared decrypted Sky ECC data with Turkish authorities, while ANOM intelligence came from the Australian Federal Police.
Authorities seized more than €300 million in assets, including 681 properties and 127 vehicles. The seized drugs were linked to cocaine from South America, heroin from Iran and Afghanistan, and synthetic drugs made in Europe. The groups also smuggled chemical precursors from East Asia for drug production.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated on social media that the goal was to break up criminal networks that were heavily involved in the drug trade across Türkiye and Europe.
