Global law enforcement operation dismantles international drug trafficking and money laundering network spanning four continents

International police dismantle a global crime network, arresting 15 suspects and seizing 1.2 tons of drugs destined for Melbourne during Operation Candy.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 2:58 PM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from AAP

Origins of the international investigation

Operation Candy began in 2024 following a routine seizure of two mobile phones from a trafficker in a small Swedish town. While the initial discovery appeared local, data recovered from the devices revealed a global criminal enterprise stretching from Europe to Asia and Australia. Mats Berggren, the deputy chief of the Swedish police, noted that the sophisticated nature of the network required a major international collaboration to fully uncover the scale of the syndicate operations.

Dismantling the criminal infrastructure

Investigators spent two years tracking the network before executing a series of coordinated raids this week. The operation was led by Sweden and supported by Europol and the European judicial authority Eurojust. Officials targeted various companies used as covers by the crime gangs to launder profits generated from drug trafficking. During the raids, authorities searched dozens of buildings and seized computers and telephones to further analyze the syndicate communication and financial structures.

Interception of Australian drug shipments

The investigation successfully prevented a large quantity of illicit substances from reaching the Australian market. German police seized 1.2 metric tons of synthetic drugs that were scheduled for shipment to Australia. AFP Commander Chris Woods confirmed that the drugs were destined for Melbourne, following a related shipment that had arrived in April 2025. The Australian Federal Police stated that the operation prevented immeasurable drug harm to the Victorian and Australian communities.