An international firearms trafficking network smuggling assault rifles and grenades into Western Europe has been dismantled following a series of coordinated raids in France, Spain and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the gang, which is believed to have sourced high-powered weapons from illegal markets in the Western Balkans and trafficked them into France for onward distribution.
The joint operation – supported by Europol and Eurojust – has taken down the full supply chain behind the trafficking route, from source to destination.
Caravan weapons cache sparks major investigation
The case began in September 2023, when law enforcement from Bosnia and Herzegovina informed Slovenian authorities that a vehicle transporting large quantities of weapons and ammunition was heading towards France. As the vehicle was already in Slovenia on its way to Austria, Slovenian authorities informed Austria. Austrian police stopped the Slovenian-registered vehicle towing a caravan near the Slovenian border. Inside, officers discovered a hidden cache of weapons, including:
- 25 AK-type assault rifles
- 126 hand grenades of various types
- 25 kg of AK ammunition
- 1 machine gun
- 1 pistol
The arsenal was concealed in hidden compartments, including the caravan’s spare tyre. The phone records of the Slovenian driver led investigators to French contacts and pointed to a broader network involving Serbian and Bosnian nationals who had prepared the shipment, as well as a Spanish national already under investigation by the Guardia Civil. A French associate was also identified as a co-director of the firearms shipment.
The driver, a Slovenian national, was arrested. Austrian authorities then informed Slovenia that the driver and the vehicle owner were from Kranj, Slovenia. This led to further investigations by Slovenian authorities in Kranj. Two other suspects were also arrested, Europol writes.
Trafficking route uncovered
The weapons are believed to have originated in Bosnia and Herzegovina before being smuggled through Slovenia and Austria en route to France. Intelligence gathered throughout 2024 helped to identify key members of the network and their roles.
The operational phase of the case began on 18 March 2025. Law enforcement authorities in France, Spain and Bosnia and Herzegovina carried out simultaneous arrests and searches, leading to:
- 4 arrests in France
- 1 arrest in Spain
- 2 arrests in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Searches in Spain and Bosnia and Herzegovina uncovered further evidence of the network’s activities. The main suspect remains at large and is currently being sought by Bosnian authorities.
European coordination
Europol supported the investigation from the outset, delivering operational analysis to the cases in the countries involved, coordinating international cooperation by organising operational meetings and deploying officers to France and Spain for the action day.
Eurojust ensured smooth judicial cooperation by facilitating the use of European Arrest Warrants and European Investigation Orders across the participating jurisdictions.
The following authorities took part in the investigation:
- France: Interregional Specialised Jurisdiction (JIRS) Paris; Central Office for the Fight Against Organised Crime (OCCLO)
- Slovenia: District State Prosecutor’s Office in Kranj; Criminal Police Kranj (General Criminal Police Directorate)
- Spain: Public Prosecutor’s Office of the National Court (Audiencia Nacional); Guardia Civil (Intelligence Service Headquarters)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ministry of Interior Affairs – Republika Srpska
Photo: Europol
