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[CRIME] · Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany · 9 sources

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Part of situation: Latin American organized crime expansion (3 clusters)

Latin American criminal networks expand operations across Europe

Latin American drug cartels cocaine trafficking organized crime expansion European security transnational crime

A four-month investigation by The Guardian reveals that Latin American criminal organizations have significantly expanded their operations across Europe. These groups, including Mexican cartels, Colombian factions like Clan del Golfo and ELN, and Brazilian organizations such as Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), are establishing presence in at least 12 European countries, with some reports suggesting the reach extends to 16.

Key hubs of activity include Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, though operations have also been detected in Germany, Romania, Croatia, and Slovakia. The expansion is characterized by growing alliances with local European mafias and the establishment of independent business structures. This trend coincides with a 471% increase in cocaine seizures within the European Union between 2014 and 2024.

Authorities have also identified specialized criminal activities, such as Mexican-led methamphetamine laboratories in France, Poland, and Germany. Europol data corroborates the transnational nature of this threat, noting that 149 of the 731 criminal networks considered most threatening to the EU maintain active connections with Latin America.

Entities

Clan del Golfo · Europol · Los Choneros · Los Lobos · Primeiro Comando da Capital · Sinaloa Cartel · The Guardian

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

Redes de narcotráfico del Clan del Golfo, ELN y disidencias Farc tendrían presencia en al menos 12 países europeos [diarioriente.com]
El crimen organizado latinoamericano estaría operando en 16 países europeos, dice estudio [contextohn.com]
Los Lobos y Los Choneros figuran en investigación sobre expansión del crimen organizado en Europa [notimercio.ec]
Cada vez hay más cocaína en la Argentina de Milei, “La Guerra contra las drogas, la ganó el narcotráfico”. [lastoscasmultimedios.com.ar]
Cárteles latinoamericanos expanden operaciones en Europa; ya tendrían presencia en hasta 16 países [estamosaqui.mx]
Operan criminales latinos en 16 países de Europa [massinformacion.com.mx]
El crimen latinoamericano cambia de territorio y sorprende a Europa [www.tunota.com]
Cárteles latinoamericanos expanden operaciones en Europa; ya tendrían presencia en hasta 16 países | Excélsior [www.excelsior.com.mx]
Los Lobos y Los Choneros tienen presencia en Europa, según The Guardian [www.expreso.ec]