Brussels, 11/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - High-level passport counterfeiting is rising, according to Europol after a three-day operation in the EU 17 main airports at the beginning of April. The 15 Member States carried out a joint investigation led by Spanish police and co-ordinated at the Europol headquarters that led to the arrest of 410 holders of false passports, according to Europol (mainly from China, South America and Africa). A quarter of them were arrested in Paris, with Madrid and Dublin also being important entry points, notes Europol, which was submitted reports from the airports each day and sent them on to the Spanish Presidency for analysis. The Presidency then reported to the chief of police task force that met in La Palma (Spain) last week.
On 20/26 March, Europol led an international operation against chemical drugs trafficking. Canada, Australia, the US and most EU Member States took part. The operation was led by France, Germany and the Netherlands and carried out in airport on passenger travelling between countries taking part. Europol said 335,000 tablets were seized and 13 people arrested. In Europe, the seizures were made in Amsterdam (89,000), Frankfurt am Main (83,000), Zurich (40,000), Madrid (27,000), Brussels (10,000) and Paris (26,500). From 29 September to 8 October a high impact operation against clandestine immigration was organised at the EU's borders with candidate countries, also in cooperation with Europol.