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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [CRIME]

2 clusters · 23 sources · 8 days · First seen · Last updated

European law enforcement and food safety operations

Overview

In late September 2026, a coordinated international operation led by Sweden, Europol, and the European Labour Authority targeted human trafficking and labor exploitation across 34 countries. In Podgorica, Montenegro, authorities dismantled a network involving Montenegrin and Turkish citizens who allegedly exploited Azerbaijani nationals at a construction site. The broader EMPACT platform operation resulted in 27 arrests and the identification of 248 potential victims across sectors such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality.

Separately, Croatian authorities utilized the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) to block Albanian agricultural shipments. Laboratory analyses found dried figs containing aflatoxin levels 375% above the permitted limit, including high concentrations of the carcinogen aflatoxin B1. Additionally, a shipment of red peppers was intercepted due to chlorfenapyr pesticide residues exceeding the maximum allowed limit by 420%.

Entities

Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed · European Union · Montenegrin Police · Bosnia and Herzegovina · European Labour Authority

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Croatia blocks Albanian agricultural shipments over toxins and pesticides

    Croatia has blocked Albanian dried figs and red peppers after testing revealed dangerous levels of aflatoxins and pesticides exceeding European safety limits.

  2. [CRIME] 20 sources
    Europol operation dismantles labor exploitation network in Montenegro

    A major Europol-led international operation dismantled labor exploitation networks, uncovering the abuse of Azerbaijani workers in Montenegro and identifying hundreds of victims across Europe.

Sources

072info.com · aktuelno.me · banjaluka.com · bl-portal.com · borba.me · cginfo.me · dnevnik.ba · gazetasi.al · glas-slavonije.hr · hms.ba · insajder.net · krupljani.ba · novi.ba · ntv.al · oslobodjenje.ba · plutonlogistics.com · sisak.info · sjevercg.me · srpskainfo.com · telegraf.rs · topalbaniaradio.com · zadarskilist.hr · zvornikdanas.com