This Consolidated Annual Activity Report covers the period from 1 January to 31 December 2023 and presents the progress made to achieve the objectives deriving from Europol’s Strategy through the implementation of the 2023 Annual Work Programme1. An overview of the budget implementation and human resources, audits, risks and internal controls management activities are also included in this report. This report has been prepared following the guidelines provided by the European Commission2 and it is submitted on behalf of the Executive Director to the Management Board for assessment, in accordance with article 16 (5)(g) and 51 (3) (d) of the Europol Regulation and article 48 of the Financial Regulation applicable to Europol. According to article 11 (1)(c) of the Europol Regulation, this report shall be adopted by the Management Board which shall send it, with its assessment, by 1 July 2024 to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Auditors and the national parliaments. Europol shall transmit the CAAR to the Joint Parliamentary Supervisory Group (JPSG) in accordance with article 51 (3)(d).

P. 20 Regarding Operational Task Forces (OTFs), during 2023, the ESOCC established 15 OTFs, above the annual target and last year’s result (10); High Value Targets (HVT) were identified in 59 operational cases. During the reporting period, ESOCC supported an OTF, led by the Netherlands and Germany, which dismantled a crypto communication service. The results included the discovery of illicit synthetic drugs labs, the seizure of more than 3.5 tonnes of drugs and over EUR 5.5M cash, and the arrest of over 45 suspects. On 7 February, in the framework of an OTF, a coordinated action day took place in Belgium, Spain and Switzerland against an international sex-trafficking ring that held hundreds of Chinese women trapped in debt bondage across Europe. The investigation was led by Belgian authorities, and coordinated by Europol (AP Phoenix) and Eurojust. The action day led to 28 arrests (27 in Belgium and one in Spain), including five high-value targets (HVT). On 5 October, 16 suspects were arrested as part of a major international operation, carried out in the framework of an OTF. The investigation involved authorities from Brazil, Cabo Verde, Serbia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Europol and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N), and targeted a criminal group involved in the large-scale trafficking of cocaine from South America to Europe. The leader of the criminal network, a Serbian national residing in Brazil, was also arrested. 

In the area of drugs, between 22 May and 2 June, Europol (AP Drugs Crime), together with CEPOL, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland, delivered a training on Dismantling Illicit Drugs Laboratories. The course, developed for LEA, forensic experts and judicial authorities, was attended by 35 trainees from MS, Iceland, UNODC and EMCDDA. During 2023, Europol collaborated closely with the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and contributed to several modules of the EU Drug Markets Report. The 7th European Annual Drugs Conference took place on 7 and 8 December at Europol’s headquarters. At the event, attended by high-ranking officials, experts and representatives from diverse law enforcement agencies, EU drug policy developments, emerging routes, logistical hubs such as port infrastructure, operational trends and threats, as well as key international cases were discussed.