The operation, codenamed Project Medusa, spans seven countries and is led by German authorities with Europol coordination in The Hague, targeting a vast network of sexual predators and victims who use chemical means to commit assaults.

Investigators report 156 potential victims and perpetrators identified, with a coordinated effort among European police and Europol under the project name Project Medusa.

The network utilizes chemical methods to facilitate sexual violence, leveraging technology and international cooperation to reach victims across borders.

Suspects use encrypted messaging, forums, and closed chat groups to share tactics, normalize abuse, coordinate crimes, and exchange material related to the offenses.

Offenders predominantly target women, with abuses often extending over years and involving individuals in positions of professional authority or trust.

Officials frame the operation as part of a broader crackdown on sexual violence, emphasizing ongoing international collaboration to dismantle chemical coercion networks.

Since April, 57 people have been arrested, 158 victims rescued, and 113 investigations opened, with charges including rape, sexual coercion, assault, and attempted murder.

The June operation, conducted across nine countries, generated 274 new leads and led to several key arrests, with some investigative details withheld by Europol amid active inquiries.

At the end of June, authorities identified about 156 suspects and victims, uncovered four additional misogynistic online communities, and developed 274 leads at the NCA in London.

Dutch police arrested four suspects in June based on cross-border information from UK and German colleagues, underscoring collaborative arrests within Project Medusa.

Since its April start, Project Medusa has focused on how online platforms and chat groups enable drug-assisted sexual assaults, aiming to dismantle these networks.

Authorities describe the scope as unprecedented, with identification of 156 victims and perpetrators across multiple nations and coordinated investigations.