Europol today supported an action day in Italy to successfully dismantle a Turkish criminal organisation involved in multiple homicides across Europe. 

The investigation was led by the Italian State Police (Polizia di Stato), with the support of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza).

In total, 17 individuals – all Turkish nationals – were arrested.

The investigation was initiated in Como, Italy, in October 2023 after three members of a criminal organisation were arrested in possession of firearms. The head of the criminal organisation featured among those arrested.

The criminal organisation was involved in multiple illegal activities, including murders across Europe, the transport of migrants, the trafficking of drugs and the smuggling of counterfeit cigarettes.

The investigation also revealed how financial flows coming from abroad financed the illegal activities of this criminal organisation in Europe.

Europol deployed two experts to Viterbo, Italy, to assist in the analysis of intelligence and the coordination of the actions. Since the end of 2022, Europol has had a new mandate which allows the Agency to focus its activities on violence, including killings connected with serious and organised crime groups.