Operation BULUT: European Crackdown Nets 232 Arrests in Massive Drug and Money Laundering Bust
April 15, 2025
The Australian Federal Police contributed to the operation by sharing intelligence obtained from the AN0M messaging platform with Turkish authorities.
On April 15, 2025, law enforcement authorities in Europe and Türkiye executed Operation BULUT, targeting four major criminal networks involved in drug trafficking and money laundering, resulting in the arrest of 232 suspects.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that the operation led to the seizure of over 21 tons of drugs and assets valued at approximately 300 million euros.
Investigators accessed critical intelligence from encrypted communication platforms like Sky ECC and AN0M, which provided insights into the operations of these criminal organizations.
Europol's Executive Deputy Director of Operations, Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, emphasized the importance of international collaboration and the effectiveness of the intercepted data in combating organized crime.
The operation revealed the networks' involvement in serious crimes, including money laundering and violent acts, indicating a broad range of organized criminal activities.
The raids were the culmination of six months of technical and physical surveillance on each suspect, showcasing the extensive planning involved.
Thousands of police officers, sniffer dogs, drones, and helicopters were deployed, targeting over 625 locations as part of this large-scale operation.
Many of the arrested suspects were allegedly involved in selling narcotics through internet-based communication platforms in various neighborhoods.
Yerlikaya described the operation as targeting a large-scale international structure responsible for various crimes, including drug trafficking and murder.
The Interior Ministry announced that the crackdown on drug trafficking would continue, with more arrests expected in the coming days.
The investigation, which lasted eight months, uncovered an extensive international criminal network suspected of various serious crimes.
Summary based on 11 sources
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Sources

Euronews • Apr 15, 2025
Over 230 arrested as Europol dismantles four major drug smuggling networks
Hackread - Latest Cybersecurity, Hacking News, Tech, AI & Crypto • Apr 15, 2025
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