In a joint action Icelandic and Polish Police, in collaboration with Europol and Eurojust eradicated an organized criminal organization with operations in Poland, Iceland and Holland. Icelandic Police has arrested five Polish nationals in connection to the operation. The Poles who were arrested have lived in Iceland for some time. All are well known to the Polish criminal justice system.
The criminal operation involved drugs trafficking, fraud and money laundering. Karl Steinar Valsson at Europol said the case is a clear example Icelandic Police is increasingly facing organized international crime.
Drugs trafficking, money laundering, fraud
At a press conference yesterday afternoon Grímur Grímsson, chief superintendent with the Metropolitan Police said the investigation began more than a year ago.
Icelandic police has confiscated large quantities of drugs as part of the operation, as well as significant quantities of cash.
A Polish shopping chain in Reykjavík, Euro Market, is suspected of having been used to launder the proceeds from the criminal operation. The managers of the chain have been arrested.
Drugs and valuables confiscated
The local news site Vísir reports that the Metropolitan Police has confiscated raw materials for the production of 26,000 Ectasy tablets and 80 kg (176 pounds) of amphetamine. The street value of the drugs is estimated at nearly half a billion ISK (5 million USD/4 million EUR).
In addition to the raw materials for drugs manufacturing the Icelandic Police has confiscated assets, cash, real estate, vehicles and businesses valued at 200 million ISK (1.9 million USD/1.6 million EUR).
The large quantity of raw materials for the production of amphetamine and ecstasy suggests that a sizable drugs manufacturing industry exists in Iceland. Police has yet to discover any such operations.
Polish nationals, center of operations in Iceland
The operation, which has lasted more than a year, included 90 officers in Iceland. At six in the morning of December 12 Icelandic, Polish and Dutch Police then launched a joint operation, arresting eight individuals, serving 30 search warrants. The value of the drugs and assets confiscated during this operation was 1.8 million Euros. The vast majority of the valuables seized in the operation were in Iceland. Iceland seems to have been used by the criminals to launder money.
The local newspaper Fréttablaðið reports that a Polish retail chain in Reykjavík, Euro Market, was used in some way by the criminals, either to hide their criminal activity or to launder the proceeds.
The stores of Euro Market were raided by Police as part of the investigation. Five Polish nationals who have lived in Iceland for some time have been arrested. Euro Market operates one mini-market in downtown Reykjavík, at Stakkholt 2b, near Hlemmur square
In a joint action Icelandic and Polish Police, in collaboration with Europol and Eurojust eradicated an organized criminal organization with operations in Poland, Iceland and Holland. Icelandic Police has arrested five Polish nationals in connection to the operation. The Poles who were arrested have lived in Iceland for some time. All are well known to the Polish criminal justice system.
The criminal operation involved drugs trafficking, fraud and money laundering. Karl Steinar Valsson at Europol said the case is a clear example Icelandic Police is increasingly facing organized international crime.
Drugs trafficking, money laundering, fraud
At a press conference yesterday afternoon Grímur Grímsson, chief superintendent with the Metropolitan Police said the investigation began more than a year ago.
Icelandic police has confiscated large quantities of drugs as part of the operation, as well as significant quantities of cash.
A Polish shopping chain in Reykjavík, Euro Market, is suspected of having been used to launder the proceeds from the criminal operation. The managers of the chain have been arrested.
Drugs and valuables confiscated
The local news site Vísir reports that the Metropolitan Police has confiscated raw materials for the production of 26,000 Ectasy tablets and 80 kg (176 pounds) of amphetamine. The street value of the drugs is estimated at nearly half a billion ISK (5 million USD/4 million EUR).
In addition to the raw materials for drugs manufacturing the Icelandic Police has confiscated assets, cash, real estate, vehicles and businesses valued at 200 million ISK (1.9 million USD/1.6 million EUR).
The large quantity of raw materials for the production of amphetamine and ecstasy suggests that a sizable drugs manufacturing industry exists in Iceland. Police has yet to discover any such operations.
Polish nationals, center of operations in Iceland
The operation, which has lasted more than a year, included 90 officers in Iceland. At six in the morning of December 12 Icelandic, Polish and Dutch Police then launched a joint operation, arresting eight individuals, serving 30 search warrants. The value of the drugs and assets confiscated during this operation was 1.8 million Euros. The vast majority of the valuables seized in the operation were in Iceland. Iceland seems to have been used by the criminals to launder money.
The local newspaper Fréttablaðið reports that a Polish retail chain in Reykjavík, Euro Market, was used in some way by the criminals, either to hide their criminal activity or to launder the proceeds.
The stores of Euro Market were raided by Police as part of the investigation. Five Polish nationals who have lived in Iceland for some time have been arrested. Euro Market operates one mini-market in downtown Reykjavík, at Stakkholt 2b, near Hlemmur square
