International drug trafficking syndicate investigations

Law enforcement agencies have conducted high-profile arrests targeting the logistics and leadership of international drug trafficking networks connecting South America to Europe.

In August 2026, authorities in Sarajevo arrested a 34-year-old man suspected of leading an international syndicate that managed criminal operations from Germany’s Hessen region. The investigation followed a massive seizure of over 600 kilograms of narcotics in early 2025. The suspect is accused of organizing cocaine imports from the Netherlands to Germany using vehicles with hidden compartments. Seven other suspects were also apprehended in Germany and Switzerland.

In September 2026, Colombian authorities arrested Julian Garcia Perez, alias ‘Hermes’, near Medellin. Perez is suspected of being a key collaborator with the Balkan Cartel, allegedly facilitating the monthly shipment of approximately two tons of cocaine from the port of Cartagena to Antwerp, Belgium. The arrest was coordinated with Luxembourg authorities, who had been seeking him for drug trafficking.