Nearly 100 investigators and open-source intelligence (OSINT) specialists from 31 countries gathered at Europol headquarters in The Hague on 3 and 4 June for the 2026 edition of the ENFAST Trackathon - a high-intensity operation targeting some of Europe’s most dangerous fugitives.

Organised by the European Network of Fugitive Active Search Teams (ENFAST) together with Europol, the Trackathon brought together fugitive investigators, analysts and OSINT specialists to work side by side on live cases involving suspects wanted for serious crimes, including murder, armed robbery and large-scale drug trafficking.

Europe-wide search for dangerous fugitives

The individuals targeted during the operation have so far managed to evade arrest despite extensive efforts by national Fugitive Active Search Teams (FAST) to locate them. All are subject to European Arrest Warrants.

For 48 hours, multilingual teams of investigators, analysts and digital experts worked together to generate new leads in difficult cases. By combining expertise from across Europe, investigators officers aimed to uncover fresh intelligence, identify overlooked connections and generate actionable leads to advance long-running investigations.

The Trackathon led to the review of 57 high-level fugitive cases. New investigative leads were identified in 56 of them, including 26 cases where investigators obtained information on the fugitive’s possible location. These leads will now be followed up at national level by the respective FAST.

The initiative focused on high-priority cases nominated by ENFAST member countries. Using OSINT and social media intelligence techniques, participating teams worked together to trace fugitives who continue to evade justice across borders.

Every digital trace can become a lead

Investigators analysed fugitives’ digital footprints, including phone numbers, social media accounts, online aliases and other digital traces, to identify clues linked to their whereabouts, movements, contacts and support networks.

By bringing together specialists from different countries investigators apply different investigative methods, analytical tools and cultural or linguistic perspectives to the same case. In many instances, this cross-border approach can reveal information or links that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Eight specialist teams worked simultaneously in a fast-paced operational environment designed to maximise real-time intelligence sharing and immediate operational follow-up.

Intervention teams on standby across Europe

The operation involved approximately 100 participants, including 50 OSINT experts.

While analysts and investigators at Europol headquarters developed new intelligence leads, FAST intervention teams across Europe remained on standby around the clock, ready to move immediately if a fugitive was located.

The previous edition of the Trackathon, held in 2024, generated new investigative leads in 50 investigations, including several location leads later pursued by national fugitive teams.

This year’s edition also included support from private-sector partners, who contributed specialist expertise and operational capabilities linked to open-source intelligence analysis.

The event was hosted by Europol, and the French, Belgian and Luxembourgish FAST units, as the current ENFAST Presidency.