A police operation across seven countries has identified 156 perpetrators and victims of drug-related sexual assault, authorities announced Thursday.
The victims were almost exclusively women.
“The investigation has uncovered online networks where criminals objectify and dehumanise victims.” Europol saidWho coordinated most of the investigations.
“They use encrypted messaging services, forums and closed chat groups to exchange experiences, normalize abusive behaviour, facilitate illicit trade in prescription drugs and narcotics, and coordinate criminal acts,” Europol said. “These communications reveal elaborate planning, reinforcement of harmful actions, and sharing of material. They show that these crimes are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of organized and interconnected behavior.”
Operation Medusa was led by Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the UK’s National Crime Agency in coordination with Europol. Law enforcement from Brazil, Canada, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States contributed to the team.
The investigation is taking place in the wake of the Gisele Pellicot case in France, which made headlines worldwide when her then-husband was found guilty of sedating her and instigating men to rape her over several years.
Many victims are unaware that they have been attacked
Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office said Thursday that the investigation is focused on criminals who committed sexual violence against people in their close social circle and over a long period of time.
Victims are usually sedated with an “amateur” mixture of painkillers, other drugs and alcohol – a potentially life-threatening combination for the victims.
“Many victims are unaware that they have been sexually assaulted,” the BKA said. “This is because the sedatives and painkillers given prevent victims from remembering the incident or immediately feeling the physical effects of the rape.”
Police encouraged anyone who suspects they may be a victim of drug-induced sexual assault to file a police report and consult a doctor.
Possible indicators include unusually long sleep duration, unexplained grogginess or drowsiness in the morning, memory lapses, or physical abnormalities with no apparent explanation, such as injuries, nausea, or sexually transmitted diseases.
Police made dozens of arrests
Europol said Operation Medusa had already resulted in 57 arrests and the rescue of 158 victims.
A total of 113 investigations have been initiated since the operation began.
The operation has also shed new light on the networks that facilitate this abuse.
Europol said Thursday that drug-fueled sexual assaults “are commonly shared by perpetrators on Internet platforms and chat groups.”
Europol said it had identified four new misogynistic online communities and 274 new investigative leads.
Edited by: Shawn Sinico
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