European law enforcers arrest over 1,000 in assault on organized crime

PanARMENIAN.Net - A European police official said law enforcement agencies across the continent have arrested more than 1,000 people in a nine-day sweep the group's chief calls the "single largest assault on organized crime we've seen in Europe."

Europol Director Rob Wainwright told reporters Wednesday, Sept 24, that Operation Archimedes targeted almost all kinds of crime ranging from drug trafficking to illegal immigration, tax fraud, counterfeiting and theft, the Associated Press reports.

Wainwright said the operation led to 1,027 arrests and saved 30 Romanian children from being trafficked. It also netted large amounts of drugs including hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin.

He added said the operation "has led I think to a very significant attack on the whole criminal infrastructure in Europe."