Southeast European criminal networks trigger security concerns in Uruguay and Spain

Authorities in Uruguay and Spain are addressing concerns regarding the expansion of Southeast European criminal organizations and rising drug trafficking violence.

In Uruguay, the DEA has warned of the strategic positioning of Southeast European mafias, specifically Albanian networks, in transatlantic cocaine trafficking. While there has been an influx of citizens from the region, the Uruguayan Ministry of the Interior maintains that there is no operational evidence linking these individuals to organized crime within the country. Despite this, some legislators have proposed mandatory visas for citizens from Albania, Serbia, and Montenegro to enhance monitoring.

In Spain, the regional government of Andalusia is calling for increased military and police presence to combat escalating narco-violence. Regional leaders have criticized the central government for a perceived lack of action following incidents involving war weapons and Balkan or Ukrainian gang activity. The Andalusian Parliament has approved an initiative requesting the reactivation of the Guardia Civil’s OCON-Sur elite unit and has called for a deployment of the Navy in the Strait to defend the coastline.