THE HAGUE, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- A joint investigation by law enforcement authorities from seven countries, led by Spain and supported by the agency for law enforcement cooperation Europol, resulted in the dismantling of the largest organized crime group in the Spanish Levante area, Europol said on Monday.
The crime organization was involved in major drug trafficking and money laundering. The whole investigation led to the arrests of 81 individuals and seizures of 4,000 kilograms of cocaine, 2 million euros (2.18 million U.S. dollars) in cash, three firearms, jewels, precious gems, luxury watches, 42 vehicles and a 25-meter-long yacht.
In addition, properties worth 20 million euros and 800 bank accounts were frozen.
The arrested persons were charged with at present laundering over 7 million euros. The final action day of the operation took place on Thursday in Spain, when more than 200 police officers carried out 13 house searches and arrested 42 individuals.
The operation was named Operation Beautiful and started in 2018 with an investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering.
The group was particularly violent. Besides Spain, law enforcement authorities from Colombia, France, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and Britain also contributed to the operation.
