German police, with the support of Europol, have broken up an international network of mercenaries who were planning to kidnap the leader of an Albanian drug gang.
The operation, carried out on November 12, 2025, is the result of a months-long investigation led by German authorities, involving police authorities in Denmark, France, Latvia and the United Kingdom.
Six people were arrested, including former soldiers of the French Foreign Legion, known for their high combat training and discipline. Four were detained during a coordinated operation in the aforementioned countries, while two were previously arrested in Germany and convicted.
"On 12 November 2025, Europol supported a German-led investigation targeting a group of mercenaries hired by a criminal organisation to kidnap the leader of a rival drug trafficking group. The operation involved police authorities from Denmark, France, Latvia and the United Kingdom. The coordinated operation focused on Latvian nationals, some of whom had military experience in the French Foreign Legion. These highly trained individuals were equipped with professional equipment and acted on behalf of an organised crime group. Their task was to kidnap the leader of an Albanian drug trafficking network, suspected of organising the theft of several tonnes of cannabis worth millions of euros," Europol said.
The European Union Agency explained that on the day of the action, four people were arrested in Denmark, France, Latvia and the United Kingdom.
"Europol played a key role in exchanging information, coordinating the operation and providing analytical support. On the day of the operation, Europol sent an expert to Nice (France), who enabled real-time information exchange and checking operational data in Europol's databases, providing immediate leads to investigators on the ground," it was announced.
They say the operation is linked to a phenomenon known as "Violence-as-a-Service," in which perpetrators offer their services to carry out violent acts on behalf of other criminal groups.
"In this case, highly trained experts were hired by organized crime groups to carry out violent actions. This modus operandi is increasingly being revealed in investigations of serious and organized crime. Analysis of the perpetrators' activities shows a high level of professionalism, as former members of special forces are often involved in these operations," Europol said.
They point out that this model of engaging trained soldiers in criminal activities is worrying and alarming.
"Several suspects in this case are former soldiers of the French Foreign Legion, which is a worrying trend stemming from the war in Ukraine. Soldiers trained for combat, upon returning from the front, could use their skills for the needs of organized crime, which poses a potential threat. As the war in Ukraine continues and may further flare up in the future, Europe could face an increase in the number of highly trained individuals involved in criminal activities. It is crucial to monitor these developments and prepare for the possible security challenges they bring," Europol said.
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