International operation leads to more than 490 arrests
Atlas Nexus targeted five criminal markets in 34 countries.
An international police operation has led to more than 490 arrests and the dismantling of dozens of criminal networks, according to the authorities involved. During Operation Atlas Nexus, more than 156.9 tonnes of drugs were seized and eighteen victims rescued.
The results of Atlas Nexus were announced on Monday by, among others, the Belgian Federal Police and the Irish police. The operation was led by Belgium and carried out with support from EMPACT, Frontex and CARICOM IMPACS. The European programme EL PACCTO 2.0 helped coordinate cooperation between law-enforcement and judicial authorities on both sides of the Atlantic.
Thirty-four countries from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and other regions took part in the operation. Europol, Interpol, Ameripol and various regional security organisations were also involved. The authorities were not targeting a single organisation, but several networks which they say were active in multiple markets at the same time.
The five priorities were drug trafficking, people smuggling, document fraud, firearms trafficking and environmental crime. According to the Belgian police, 37.6 tonnes of cocaine and 118.6 tonnes of cannabis were intercepted. In addition, 201 firearms, 3,131 rounds of ammunition and explosives, 468 fraudulent documents, and assets such as property and jewellery were seized.
The Irish authorities report that, as part of Atlas Nexus, they found, among other things, a mobile cocaine-processing facility in a lorry trailer. In a separate operation, 74 kilograms of cocaine and 32 kilograms of cannabis were found. Three men were arrested and charged; their cases are before the courts. The police say the investigations are still ongoing.
The Belgian Federal Police describes it as the largest joint operation between Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to date, measured by the number of countries involved and the scale of the seizures. That is the police's own characterisation, not the result of an independent comparative study. Nor do the public announcements provide a complete overview of all arrests, suspects or national criminal proceedings.
The operation mainly shows how law-enforcement agencies are trying to tackle international crime as a network. Intercepting shipments is one element; the authorities also say they want to disrupt financial resources, logistics and connections between groups. It is not yet clear how many arrests will ultimately lead to prosecution or conviction.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The operation was led by the Belgian Federal Police and carried out with international partners.
- The authorities report more than 490 arrests, more than 156.9 tonnes of drugs seized and eighteen victims rescued.
- The action targeted drug trafficking, people smuggling, document fraud, firearms trafficking and environmental crime.
Left
Arguments International crime requires cooperation, but not only more arrests. Law enforcement must go hand in hand with victim support, prevention, tackling financial structures and robust legal protections for suspects.
Values Human rights, social justice, proportionality and the protection of victims.
Consequences A network-focused approach can be more effective than isolated border checks, but a numbers-driven race for arrests can lead to hasty prosecutions or unequal treatment.
Centre
Arguments The institutional approach is defensible if agencies share information, act in a targeted manner and their results are subsequently reviewed by independent judges. Arrests are a starting point, not proof of guilt.
Values The rule of law, feasibility, international cooperation and accountability.
Consequences The operation may disrupt criminal logistics, but its ultimate success will depend on prosecutions, convictions and preventing networks from simply relocating.
Right
Arguments The scale of drug trafficking, arms smuggling and people smuggling justifies a tough, cross-border approach. Criminal assets must be confiscated quickly and international borders must not provide a safe space in between.
Values Public order, national security, deterrence and the protection of citizens.
Consequences More joint operations and asset seizures may weaken the power base of criminal groups, but this requires long-term capacity and consistent enforcement.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key figures and the structure of Atlas Nexus are confirmed by Belgian and Irish police services. The text clearly distinguishes between reported arrests and subsequent court outcomes.
- confirmed Atlas Nexus led to more than 490 arrests in 34 countries. — Reported by the Belgian Federal Police and An Garda Síochána. source
- confirmed More than 156.9 tonnes of drugs were seized. — The figure appears in the official results published by the Belgian Federal Police. source
- confirmed The operation targeted five criminal markets. — The five categories are listed in publications by Belgium and Ireland. source
- confirmed Among other items, 74 kilograms of cocaine and 32 kilograms of cannabis were found in Ireland. — These quantities appear in the Irish police statement on the national actions carried out as part of Atlas Nexus. source
Editor's note
The arrest and seizure figures come from statements by participating police services. A complete breakdown by country, all suspects' names and the final legal outcome of the cases have not been disclosed.Sources
- Atlas Nexus rolt tientallen criminele netwerken op — Federale Politie België
- Garda neemt deel aan internationale operatie tegen criminele netwerken — An Garda Síochána
- Gardaí participate in major international policing operation — Irish Examiner
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „atlas nexus”
- De Telegraaf — „atlas nexus”
- AD — „atlas nexus”