National Crime Agency (NCA)

A Spanish man who attempted to smuggle almost 160 kilos of cannabis into the UK via Manchester Airport has been jailed for more than three years. Fernando Jacobo Mayans Fuster, from Zaragoza in Spain, arrived in May this year, having flown from Los Angeles in the US, via London Heathrow. He was arrested after Border Force officers located 278 packages in eight separate bags. Three of the bags had been checked-in in the names of his three children, aged 11 to 15, who were travelling with him. Mayans Fuster was arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency and confirmed he had been in the USA for 10 days, that he lived in Spain and a friend had given him the suitcases, adding: “I’m in a lot of trouble”. In total, just under 160 kilos of cannabis was recovered, with an estimated street value of £4.8 million if sold in the UK. Mayans Fuster was charged with importing class B drugs and pleaded guilty at Stockport Magistrates Court. He was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment at Manchester Minshull St Crown Court on Friday. This was a significant amount of cannabis, one of the largest seizures of its kind at Manchester Airport. NCA officers work alongside our partners at Border Force to prevent drug smuggling and dismantle the criminal networks behind it. FULL STORY ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ef6ZzqQa

❗️Closing date extended❗️ The closing date for the Regulator role within the Proceeds of Crime Centre has now been extended until 11:55pm on Sunday 4 August. Apply here 👉 https://bit.ly/4cRbizh An additional virtual open evening will be held on Thursday 25 July. Sign up to attend here 👉 https://bit.ly/3Y8hiQh

The National Crime Agency has infiltrated a significant DDoS-for-hire service which has been responsible for tens of thousands of attacks every week across the globe. The disruption targeting digitalstress.su, a criminal marketplace offering DDoS capabilities, was made in partnership with Police Service of Northern Ireland. It comes after the PSNI arrested one of the site’s suspected controllers earlier this month. The NCA took over the site and disabled its functionality, replacing the domain with a splash page, warning users that their data has been collected by law enforcement. This was achieved by creating a mirror site that users were directed to. The NCA also covertly and overtly accessed communication platforms being used to discuss launching DDoS attacks, telling and showing the users of these platforms that nowhere is safe for cyber criminals to talk about their criminal activity. Booter services are an entry-level cyber crime, allowing individuals with little technical ability to commit cyber offences with ease. Anyone using these services while our mirror site was in place has now made themselves known to law enforcement agencies around the world. Read the full story ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ew5QBXKk

WANTED: Could you help us find Adrian Voica? The 28-year-old was convicted in Romania of human trafficking offences and was sentenced to four years and three months in prison. He left Romania and is thought to be in the UK. Voica is approx. 5ft 6in tall and has an athletic build. He has links to the Warwickshire/ Rugby area but could be anywhere in England and Wales. Assisting an offender is a crime and we will seek to prosecute anyone doing this. If you have any information, contact Crimestoppers Trust anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Ten British nationals have been arrested as part of multi-agency investigation into drug trafficking from South America to Europe. The joint operation was launched in 2020 and has been conducted by the Spanish Policía Nacional, National Crime Agency, Norway’s National Criminal Investigation Service, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the European MAOC, with the support of EUROPOL. Worldwide law enforcement agencies have arrested 52 people in total – 28 in Spain – and seized 1.5 tonnes of cocaine, eight boats and 36 vehicles, as well as firearms and ammunition. The criminal network owned a fleet of vessels which were used to transport the drugs from South America to Europe via Spain. The long-running investigation identified routes used by the OCG to bring vast quantities of drugs to Spain for onward distribution, including into the UK. The NCA’s international network has played a leading role in sharing intelligence with overseas partners to intercept huge shipments of drugs and trace key members of the criminal enterprise. Tackling global crime groups such as this one requires strong collaboration with international partners, and our efforts alongside them continue to ensure these networks are demolished. FULL STORY ➡️ https://lnkd.in/evZwfkfY

Could you help us find Patryk Deja? Deja is wanted in Poland for attempted murder. In May 2017, he is alleged to have stabbed a victim in the back, causing life-threatening wounds to the lungs and spine. The 26-year-old is believed to be living in the UK, with links to Birmingham and the south coast of England, but his current whereabouts are unknown. Deja is a trained sushi chef and is believed to have worked in restaurants and as a delivery driver. Assisting an offender is a crime and we will seek to prosecute anyone doing this. If you have any information, contact Crimestoppers Trust anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Operation Spincaster demonstrates the NCA’s commitment to collaborating with tech partners in the private sector to tackle fraud.   This work has protected victims here in the UK, and provided opportunities for us to pursue organised crime groups causing significant harm.

Hiring now - Proceeds of Crime Centre Regulators! As a PoCC Regulator you will be involved in the design, development and delivery of Proceeds of Crime Act training courses as well as the accreditation and monitoring of financial investigators - suitable for both current or previously accredited financial investigators. Apply here 👉 https://bit.ly/4cRbizh Applications close 21 July.

An organised crime group responsible for laundering millions in criminal cash, drug distribution and the attempted fraudulent acquisition of £1.5million of government grants has been dismantled following a NCA investigation. Rickinder Hare and Neelen Balarajah were sentenced to a total of 14 years and six months for money laundering and conspiracy to supply class A drugs. In 2022, NCA officers witnessed Balarajah take possession of a ‘Gucci’ embossed box containing over £20,000. When challenged, Balarajah attempted to escape, driving his car at the arresting officers. Hare who had organised the exchange was subsequently arrested. Officers searched Balarajah’s home and found a substantial amount of cash, herbal cannabis, cocaine, and numerous empty wrappings which also tested positive for traces of cocaine. The group also attempted to secure access to government grants and funding to remove waste from a commercial site. NCA investigations demonstrated that they didn't have the capacity to remove and legally dispose of the waste, and were looking to divert the funds, most likely to other criminal ventures. Our investigation has identified a number of individuals closely linked to the group, as well as connections to politically exposed individuals overseas. We will continue investigating to determine if any of these were associated with their criminal activity. Read the full story ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eVJvsdpT

World Youth Skills Day is the perfect time to consider working with Cyber Choices to help young people utilise their technical skills and pursue careers within the cybersecurity industry. From running competitions to delivering talks, there’s numerous ways in which you could play an influential role in the futures of talented and skilled young people. If you are interested in working with Cyber Choices, take a look at: www.cyberchoices.uk