They organized the r*pes of women/ Europol uncovers criminal network operating online, 57 arrested across Europe

Law enforcement agencies from seven countries, led by the German and British authorities and supported by Europol, have arrested 57 people from various European countries. They are accused of running an online network where the rape of women and their partners was planned after they were drugged without their knowledge.

The joint operation took place between June 22 and 24 and led to the identification of 156 people, including victims and suspected perpetrators. A total of 158 women were rescued. Investigators also identified 274 new investigative leads and four previously unknown misogynistic online communities, where investigations are continuing in the respective countries.

Online communities and the DFSA phenomenon

At the heart of the investigation is the phenomenon of drug-facilitated sexual assault, known by the acronym DFSA. According to Europol’s reconstruction, the suspects used forums and chat groups to exchange advice on how to drug their partners and carry out the assaults, in some cases documenting them.

Operation Medusa

The investigation is part of the broader Operation Medusa, launched in April as a European cooperative initiative to dismantle digital networks that facilitate drug-related sexual crimes and to strengthen cross-border investigation and prosecution strategies. Since the start of the project, 113 investigations have been opened in participating countries, a figure which, according to Europol, confirms the structural nature of the phenomenon, which still remains largely hidden.

What makes Operation Medusa so innovative?

Investigators say these cases are not isolated incidents, but part of a large network organized through the internet. According to them, the perpetrators used encrypted messaging apps and closed forums to exchange advice, encourage one another, and obtain drugs used against the victims.

In these online groups, violence against women was treated as something normal, while the victims were objectified and treated without dignity. Messages uncovered by investigators show that the assaults were carefully planned and were not random incidents. Most of the victims were women, while in many cases the abuse continued for years.

In addition to rape charges, some suspects are also under investigation for grievous bodily harm and attempted murder. According to the authorities, Operation Medusa showed that only cooperation between countries can strike such criminal networks and punish perpetrators who believe they can operate online without being detected.