Law enforcement authorities from all across the continent came together for the EMPACT Joint Action Day South East Europe (JAD SEE) 2024. From a coordination centre set up in Sarajevo, colleagues from 26 countries took decisive action against key criminal threats in the region. The JAD SEE 2024 saw the joint capacities and resources of the European Union and its international partners target multiple criminal threats, including trafficking in human beings, migrant smuggling, drug and illegal firearms trafficking, and the fight against high-risk criminal networks. 796 individuals were arrested, 316 investigations initiated and 442 weapons seized as a result of the massive operation, which involved 31 109 officers.

The scale and scope of this operation were designed to be as wide as possible. Checks and searches encompassed both the physical and the online world, including the clear web, the dark web, and social media platforms. Notably, these ‘cyber patrols’ involved not only law enforcement authorities but also prosecutors from different jurisdictions, adding significant value to their operational effectiveness.

In total, results of the JAD SEE 2024, which was held under the motto “Uniting Forces Against Organised Crime”, include:

• 796 individuals arrested
• 316 new investigations initiated
• 442 weapons seized
• 31 109 officers on duty performed 655 914 checks on entities, which includes 516 153 persons, 152 284 vehicles, 4 985 postal packages and 1 181 premises

EU security begins outside its borders

From the proactive participation of partners in the Western Balkan region and of countries part of the Eastern Partnership such as Moldova and Ukraine, to the support of Türkiye, the key to this operation’s success was cross-border collaboration. Working side by side, EU and non-EU agencies and projects have provided their expertise, enabling the JAD SEE 2024 to present a truly united front against organised crime.

Europol supported this joint undertaking by deploying experts with mobile offices who could cross-check new information against the agency’s databases. The partner countries and agencies similarly deployed specific expertise, with special detection units, canine units, experts in the detection of concealment methods, and document fraud experts supporting the vast physical and virtual operation.

The EU4FAST project supported the setup of the coordination centre and the participation of the Western Balkan countries, Moldova, Ukraine, Türkiye and selected EU Member States, as well as INTERPOL, during the operational phase

EMPACT as platform for collaboration

The JAD SEE 2024 is informed and driven by the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), the EU’s security initiative for combating serious and organised crime globally. The success of this operation is rooted in intelligence-driven actions and a unified, collaborative approach, showcasing the added value of collective efforts in addressing complex and serious international crime.

Participating EU Member states

Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden

Participating third-party countries

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine

Participating agencies and projects

EU Commission, CEPOL, Europol, Eurojust, Frontex, EU Strategy for the Danube Region, EU4FAST, INTERPOL, SELEC, UNDP SEESAC, UNODC 

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.