In a joint operation, Spanish and French authorities have detained 28 suspected members of the infamous criminal organization network Vory V Zakone, or translated from Russian - Thieves in Law,Europol announced. Most of the suspects are Armenians and Georgians, and among them was their presumed leader.

With the support of Interpol, French police has this year started cracking down on a Russian-speaking mob, the so-called Vory v Zakone or “Thieves-in-Law,” which often controls groups committing drug trafficking, extortion, contract murder and money laundering. 

Georgian authorities directed French police on Monday to catch 22 members of Eastern European and Central Asian gangs that robbed houses, stole cars, ran a stolen goods ring, created false documents and trafficked drugs across Europe.

Spanish police said Thursday that they have derailed an extensive Eurasian crime network, arresting several high-level criminals known as “thieves-in-law” in one of the country’s largest ever operations against organized crime.

Police in Spain have launched a major operation against Armenian organized crime on Tuesday, saying they expect to detain as many as 100 suspects across Spain, EFE reported.

Two members of a sprawling and violent criminal enterprise, including one crowned “Thief-in-Law,” were convicted of racketeering and several related charges in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday.

Dozens of Georgian gang members and four mafia bosses with ties to major Caucasus gangs faced charges of being involved in an organized crime group, money laundering and criminal conspiracy on Monday, Le Parisien reported.

German authorities are investigating some 230 nursing services believed to be charging the government more than €1.2 billion annually for fictitious staff and hours spent on caring for the elderly and sick, media reported Tuesday.

Organised crime gangs from Russia and former Soviet countries are on the rise in Germany, taking part in illicit activities with the potential to cause billions of Euros in losses, the country’s federal investigations chief has said.