LYON, France – 328 individuals subject to INTERPOL Notices and Diffusions, including 57 with suspected links to terrorism, have been identified following border checks at over 70 locations in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
A total of 20 countries took part in Operation Neptune VII (July - September 2025), coordinated by INTERPOL in cooperation with Europol, Frontex and the World Customs Organization (WCO), and aimed at tightening border security around maritime routes across the Mediterranean Sea, and at airports and land borders in the region. The operation ran for around two weeks in each country and achieved a significant increase in both the number of checks against INTERPOL databases – 30 million compared to 16 million in 2024 – and arrests – a total of 153, up from 66.
Among those arrested was Igor Grechushkin, the owner of the cargo ship that carried the ammonium nitrate behind the 2020 Beirut explosion, which killed at least 218 people and injured over 6,000. He was detained at Sofia airport in Bulgaria on the basis of a Red Notice issued by Lebanon, where he faces multiple charges, including acts of terrorism. Extradition proceedings are ongoing.
A further 23 arrests were linked to INTERPOL Red Notices or Red Diffusions – which can form the basis for a provisional arrest - for crimes including drugs and involvement in criminal organizations. They included the detention at the Spanish port of Algeciras of two individuals wanted respectively for terrorism and drugs-related offences.
Tracking Foreign Terrorist Fighters on the move across borders
Neptune VII also provided law enforcement agencies with significant information allowing them to analyse and track the movements of Foreign Terrorist Fighters, particularly thanks to the publication of Blue Notices and Diffusions. Unlike a Red Notice, these are requests between INTERPOL member countries to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities, in relation to a criminal investigation.
A total of 10 Blue Notices for suspects connected to terrorism were published during the operation, and checks against INTERPOL databases in several countries led to “hits” providing further information on almost 60 suspected Foreign Terrorist Fighters and their movements. The operation also uncovered information on a number of individuals with connections to terrorism who were previously not recorded in INTERPOL databases.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:
“Terrorist groups aim to create fear, endanger the safety of individuals and entire regions, often profiting from organized crime to fund their activities. However, this operation demonstrates the strength of law enforcement cooperation in countering such threats. We remain dedicated to protecting global security by providing our member countries with the information, tools and support they need to identify and bring terrorists to justice.”
High value seizures from travel documents to luxury cars
The operation also led to significant seizures involving both terrorist activities and other serious crimes. Crosschecks against INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database led to 130 “hits”, including a large number of stolen blank documents which had previously been reported as seized by terrorist groups operating in the Middle East. Other seizures ranged from 220 kg of marijuana to 20 kg of silver bullion, USD 130,000 in cash and numerous stolen luxury vehicles. High value goods, drugs and cash are often used to fund criminal and terrorist activities.
Notes to editors
Neptune VII was funded by Global Affairs Canada, The Kingdom of the Netherlands and Frontex.
Participating countries: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Tunisia