NCJ Number
207207
Date Published
2003
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This CD-ROM contains an 11 minute video clip describing the European Union law enforcement organization known as Europol.
Abstract
As international borders continue to become less of a barrier to economic trade, international criminal organizations are stepping in to profit. Recognizing the need for international law enforcement intelligence to bridge international borders, the European Union established Europol as an international criminal intelligence organization. Created under the legal authority of the Maastricht Treaty of 1992, Europol began full activities in 1999 after establishing the Europol Drug Unit in 1994. The goal of Europol is to provide intelligence and technical service support to member states in an effort to combat serious organized transnational crime, including drug trafficking, terrorism, illegal immigration and human trafficking, cyber crime, financial crime and counterfeiting, and stolen vehicle syndicates. Europol facilitates and enables the rapid exchange of international crime data, provides crime analysis based on intelligence provided by member states, and provides expertise and technical support for investigations by law enforcement of member states. Based in The Hague, Netherlands, Europol works under the strategic governance of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Europol has no executive authority; all arrests and actions on the ground are carried out by law enforcement agencies of the countries concerned. The various services provided by Europol are enumerated and include intelligence analysis, development and research, law enforcement liaison, and technological assistance. Operation Twins is described, which was a Europol-assisted case involving an Internet-based pedophile ring in 12 countries. Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, Europol reports that the transmission of terrorism-related information to its organization has increased dramatically. Europol provides a rapid and effective multilingual law enforcement service 24 hours a day for member states in their efforts to combat organized crime.