PANews reported on December 19 that Europol, together with law enforcement agencies from six countries, cracked a large-scale drug trafficking network that used cryptocurrencies to launder money, arrested nine suspects, and seized gold, luxury goods, 35,000 euros in cash and 25 million euros (about 26.23 million US dollars) in cryptocurrencies, with a total value of 27.2 million euros.

The network operated through an underground banking system controlled by Dubai, and the flow of funds involved cryptocurrencies. The operation was launched in Malaga, Spain on November 4, 2024, targeting core members related to Albanian and southern Spanish criminal networks.