Europol Hosts Largest-Ever Operation to Boost Global Asset Seizures

Europol recently conducted its largest coordinated operation to strengthen global efforts in seizing criminal assets, hosting over 80 financial crime experts in an initiative called ‘Project A.S.S.E.T.’ (Asset Search & Seize Enforcement Taskforce). The operation, held from January 13 to 17, brought together representatives from 43 law enforcement agencies spanning 28 countries, as well as participants from Eurojust and Interpol.

The focus of Project A.S.S.E.T. was to enhance cooperation and expertise in tracing and seizing assets tied to organized crime. According to Europol, specialists worked to “identify persons… and planned joint actions to seize assets.”

During the five-day operation, authorities identified significant criminal holdings, including:

• 53 properties, 8 of which were collectively valued at €38.5 million,

• Over 220 bank accounts, one of which contained $5.6 million,

• 15 companies, more than 20 luxury yachts and cars, with 4 vehicles valued at over €600,000,

• 83 cryptocurrency wallets and addresses, with €200,000 in cryptocurrencies frozen.

Burkhard Mühl, Head of the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC) at Europol, praised the unprecedented collaboration demonstrated during the operation. “Bringing together over 80 top experts from law enforcement and the private sector, we worked as one to trace, freeze, and seize the profits of organised crime,” Mühl said.

“Together, we’re striking criminals where it hurts most – their wallets. As we move forward united, success is inevitable,” he added.

Project A.S.S.E.T. reflects Europol’s commitment to targeting financial crime through international partnerships, aiming to dismantle the economic foundations of organized criminal networks.

By fLEXI tEAM