Intelligence from encrypted platforms like Sky ECC and ANOM has led to the arrest of 232 individuals and the seizure of millions in assets in a major European law enforcement operation against drug trafficking.
A joint law enforcement operation (dubbed Operation BULUT) involving international agencies has resulted in the successful dismantling of several well-established criminal organisations, mostly involved in moving illegal drugs into Europe and Türkiye. The operation was codenamed “BULUT,” meaning “cloud” in Turkish.
The operation, supported by Europol, took place on April 15, 2025, and involved coordinated raids across multiple countries, resulting in the arrest of over 230 individuals. These arrests targeted both the leaders and the logistical arms of these powerful networks.
The operation’s success is attributed to the continued ability of investigators to access and interpret information from encrypted communication platforms, even though it spanned numerous legal jurisdictions.
Tools like Sky ECC and ANOM, despite previous law enforcement actions against them, continue to provide crucial insights into the workings of these covert groups. According Europol’s official news release, these platforms “remain powerful tools in the hands of investigators.”
The coordinated actions involved authorities from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Türkiye, with Europol playing a central coordinating role. Investigation revealed that these criminal entities although operated independently, collectively held a dominant position in the European drug trade using both traditional smuggling routes and more advanced logistical strategies for their activities.
The scale of their operations was magnanimous, considering that authorities have seized at least 21 tonnes of various drugs in Europe and Türkiye, including a staggering 3.3 million MDMA tablets. In addition, “over EUR 300 million worth of assets were seized in Türkiye and Europe, including 681 properties and 127 vehicles.”
Furthermore, investigators uncovered the networks’ deep involvement in other serious crimes, such as money laundering and violent acts, indicating the extensiveness of organised criminal activity.
During the operation, French authorities shared decrypted data from Sky ECC with Turkey, enabling local investigations into high-profile organised crime suspects. Conversely, the Australian Federal Police provided ANOM intelligence to Turkish authorities, enhancing their understanding of the criminal networks.
The Turkish National Police officers worked at Europol’s headquarters, analysing encrypted communications to identify criminal networks within Türkiye. The initial phase led to arrests of key figures in the drug trafficking hierarchy. After identifying links to organised crime across the European Union, Europol coordinated a second phase to disrupt networks’ activities within EU member states.
Europol used its extensive databases to cross-reference suspect information with passenger records, enabling discreet surveillance. During the operational phase, Europol established a real-time coordination platform for swift decision-making and strategy adjustments as well.
This operation shows the importance of international collaboration and the use of encrypted communication intelligence in combating organised crime. As Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Europol’s Executive Deputy Director of Operations, notes, through international cooperation and acting on solid intelligence, “no one is beyond reach.”
