On the third anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Europol reaffirms its commitment to supporting EU Member States in their investigations under Operation OSCAR.
Launched on 11 April 2022, Operation OSCAR was established by Europol to strengthen financial investigations into assets linked to sanctioned individuals and entities following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A total of 44 partners, including Eurojust and Frontex, are actively involved.
Operation OSCAR plays a key role in enforcing EU sanctions and combating financial crime by facilitating intelligence exchange, supporting financial investigations and enhancing international cooperation.
To date, Europol has received more than 300 operational contributions in over 90 separate investigations developed in the framework of this operation.
Europol’s European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC) has provided extensive analytical and operational support, cross-checking intelligence against Europol’s databases and coordinating efforts between law enforcement agencies, customs authorities, asset recovery offices and financial intelligence units.
Europol is stepping up its efforts with the recent implementation of the EU’s legal framework, which harmonises criminal offences related to the violation of EU sanctions.
Europol has established a dedicated Target Group on Sanctions within the EFECC, serving as the central hub for sanction-related investigations. This initiative will improve the tracking of illicit financial flows and asset seizures, ensuring a more coordinated response to sanctions evasion.
