Global Network of Men Charged With Drugging and Assaulting Women

WHO:

CNN - Authorities from Europol and Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) are involved in the investigation.

CNN - Gisele Pelicot is mentioned as a victim in a high-profile case in France.

CNN - Dominique Pelicot was sentenced for organizing the drugging and rape of his then-wife Gisèle.

CNN - Fernando P. is a German national convicted of drugging and raping his wife.

CNN - Zhenhao Zou was convicted of raping 10 women in the UK and China.

CNN - A Polish man identified as “Piotr” was arrested in connection with an alleged rape.

WHAT:

CNN - An international police operation has uncovered networks of men drugging and raping women.

CNN - More than 150 offenders and victims have been identified, with over 270 new leads opened.

CNN - Fifty-seven people have been arrested as part of the operation.

CNN - The operation is called Project Medusa.

CNN - Drug-facilitated sexual assault is described as increasingly organized and conducted via coordinated networks.

WHERE:

CNN - The operation spans seven countries, including the United States, Brazil, Canada, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Spain.

CNN - The investigation is coordinated by Europol.

WHEN:

CNN - Project Medusa was launched in April.

CNN - Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2024.

CNN - Fernando P. was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in prison.

CNN - Zhenhao Zou was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years.

WHY:

CNN - The investigation follows a cultural reckoning on gender-based violence and misogyny sparked by the case of Gisele Pelicot.

CNN - The NCA states that the true scale of these crimes is "almost certainly underreported."

HOW:

CNN - Offenders use online chat groups to coordinate assaults, share information, and post videos and photos of the abuse.

CNN - The abuse often involves sedating victims before the assault.

CNN - Perpetrators use encrypted messaging services and closed chat groups to exchange experiences and facilitate the illegal trade in drugs.

(UPDATED July 3, 2026 19:28 UTC)

An international police operation known as Project Medusa has uncovered extensive networks of men drugging and raping women, with authorities from Europol and Britain’s National Crime Agency involved in the investigation. More than 150 offenders and victims have been identified across seven countries, leading to the arrest of fifty-seven individuals and the opening of over 270 new leads. The investigation highlights a troubling trend of drug-facilitated sexual assault being increasingly organized through coordinated networks, often utilizing online chat groups and encrypted messaging services to facilitate these heinous acts.