In an internationally coordinated operation, law enforcement agencies led by the German BKA and its British counterpart NCA have carried out a strike against abuse networks. Since Thursday of this week it has been known that several new such networks have been found, 57 people have been arrested, and there are a total of 113 investigations. 158 victims were brought to safety; for obvious reasons, investigators do not disclose the details of the people affected and the protective measures.
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The authorities conducted the investigation under the name “Project Medusa”. This allusion to the mythical creature from Greek mythology shows the dimensions of these crimes that were unknown until just a few years ago: Four new networks of perpetrators were discovered in the current operation. The investigators do not specify the number of members in these associations who were organized in chat groups on messengers and groups on porn platforms.
Authorities from Brazil, Germany, France, Great Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, the United States and Europol were involved in the operation. The project was launched in April 2026, and the specific measures were then coordinated at the headquarters of the British National Crime Agency (NCA) in London at the end of June.
Planning and documenting violence on the internet
The phenomenon of organized abuse of people who were drugged with drugs only received widespread attention with the case of the French woman Giselle Pelicot. The woman had been sedated and raped by her then-husband and dozens of other men over the years. The perpetrators made recordings of the sexual violence, shared them on the Internet, and discussed means of making people unable to resist and impairing their memory.
As a result, these groups, also known as rapist networks, came more into the public eye. The aim of the predominantly male perpetrators from the victims’ personal environment is described by investigators as “chemical subjugation”. The international term used by Europol is “drug-facilitated sexual assaults”. Women, and sometimes children, are given medication, alcohol, other drugs and painkillers without their knowledge. The latter means that the physical consequences are not immediately apparent to the victims, as the BKA reports.
Even victims find it difficult to recognize
In addition to sexual assault, simply administering these substances without consent is a criminal offense. The investigators point out that, in addition to acts of sexual violence, substances administered by laypeople can also be life-threatening. The defendants are therefore also accused of causing grievous bodily harm and attempting to kill. Because it can be difficult for victims to recognize violent acts caused by substances, investigators are increasingly pointing out how this can be done better. The BKA mentions the following anomalies quoted in the full text:
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- unusually long sleep duration or unusual sleep rhythm
- incomprehensible drowsiness/fatigue in the morning
- Gaps in memory
- Awakening in places without knowing how you got there
- Abnormalities in the body (e.g. nausea, bruises, sexually transmitted diseases) for which there is no explanation
The Hamburg police also point out that due to the volatility of some of the substances used, the respective institute for forensic medicine should be contacted as quickly as possible in the event of suspicion. The BKA, in turn, makes a general recommendation to call the police emergency number (telephone number 110) if necessary. The Federal Criminal Police Office cites the Weisser Ring online advice center and the violence against women helpline (telephone number 116 016) as further contact points. The latter link also contains further information for those affected and for recognizing sexual violence.
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