A Guardian investigation lasting four months has revealed that Latin American organized crime groups have established a presence in at least 16 European countries, marking a dramatic increase in cocaine trafficking and narcotics-related criminal activity across the continent.
Utilizing data from police databases, intelligence agencies, and interviews with judges, prosecutors, and experts from eight nations, the investigation confirmed that criminal networks from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico, and the United States have firmly rooted themselves in Europe. The volume of cocaine seizures in Europe has surged by 471% between 2014 and 2024, accompanied by an increase in dismantled laboratories producing cocaine derivatives.
Key Latin American Groups and Their European Reach
The identified organizations include Mexico’s Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels; Colombia’s Clan del Golfo mafia and various guerrilla factions such as ELN and dissident Farc groups; Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho; Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua; and US-origin gangs Barrio 18 and MS-13, which are also active in Central America.
These groups have concentrated their activities notably in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, with documented operations extending to Germany, Romania, Croatia, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. An unpublished report reviewed by the Guardian and partially based on Brazilian intelligence data indicates the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), Brazil’s largest criminal faction, operates in 16 countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.
Emerging Patterns and Implications
Authorities and experts highlight the unprecedented geographic expansion of Latin American criminal enterprises, moving beyond traditional European entry points. Recent police operations uncovered Mexican-controlled methamphetamine laboratories in regions such as southern France, northeastern Poland, and Brandenburg in Germany, indicating the establishment of production capabilities within Europe.
Daniel Brombacher, political scientist and director of the Europe Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (Gi-Toc), noted the significance of Latin American groups emerging in countries without prior criminal infrastructure, signaling a strategic advancement of their operations across the continent.
Context of Global Drug Production and European Consumption
The global cocaine production has approximately quadrupled since 2014, reaching an estimated 4,100 metric tons in 2024, with Colombia now producing at record levels surpassing the era of Pablo Escobar. South America remains the primary source for cocaine and related substances.
Europe’s role as a major market has grown in recent years, offering higher profit margins than the United States. European law enforcement agencies have intercepted more cocaine than their American counterparts since the early 2020s, with Europe accounting for roughly a quarter of worldwide consumption according to recent UN and Europol reports.
A 2024 Europol report identified 149 of 731 most threatening criminal networks in Europe as connected to Latin American organizations, with 67 having Latin American members and 22 composed predominantly of Latin Americans.
