Tuesday 13 October 2026
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Latin American cartels established in at least 12 European countries, investigation finds

Guardian probe reveals 471% surge in cocaine seizures as criminal networks forge ties with local mafia

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
A four-month investigation by the Guardian has found that Latin American organised crime groups are now active in at least 12 European countries, fuelling a dramatic rise in cocaine trafficking across the continent. The probe, which drew on police databases, intelligence agencies and interviews with judges, prosecutors and experts from eight countries, documents the presence of cartels and factions from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico and the United States operating in Europe and forming close links with local mafia organisations.

The investigation highlights a 471% increase in the quantity of cocaine seized in Europe between 2014 and 2024, alongside a rising number of dismantled local laboratories processing cocaine derivatives. The true reach of these networks may be even wider, as the figure of 12 countries includes only groups officially identified through police operations, transnational investigations and ongoing court cases. It does not account for gangs that lack a physical presence in Europe while working in joint ventures with European mafias.

Among the identified organisations are Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG); Colombia's Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Farc; Brazil's Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV); Venezuela's Tren de Aragua; and the US-originated Barrio 18 and MS-13 gangs, which are also prevalent in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

The findings underscore a significant shift in the structure of the illicit drug trade, with Latin American networks moving from being suppliers to establishing operational footholds in Europe. The Guardian's reporting suggests that these groups are not merely exporting cocaine but are embedding themselves in European criminal ecosystems, brokering deals and running logistics on the ground.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The expansion of Latin American cartels into Europe represents a direct challenge to law enforcement agencies across the continent, which now face highly organised, transnational criminal networks with established logistics and local partnerships.
  • The surge in cocaine seizures and laboratory dismantlements indicates a growing supply that could deepen addiction problems and fuel associated violence and corruption in European countries.
  • The investigation's findings may prompt increased coordination among European police forces and new strategies to counter the infiltration of foreign criminal groups.

Background

The cocaine trade to Europe has expanded rapidly over the past decade, driven by rising demand and the ability of Latin American cartels to adapt their trafficking routes. Western Africa and the Iberian Peninsula have long served as transit hubs, but recent enforcement actions have revealed that criminal groups are now establishing permanent cells and operational bases within Europe itself. The Guardian's investigation is one of the most comprehensive attempts to map the scale of this presence.

Key Perspectives

European law enforcement agencies: The presence of sophisticated foreign cartels inside the EU requires cross-border intelligence sharing and new investigative tools to disrupt their financial networks and supply chains. Latin American governments: These groups often operate with impunity in their home countries, and their expansion abroad may increase pressure on authorities to crack down on domestic operations that fund international activities. Critics and local communities: Concerns include the potential for increased drug-related violence to spill into European cities, as well as the corruption of officials who may be co-opted by well-funded criminal organisations.

What to Watch

  • Future cocaine seizure volumes and the number of dismantled processing labs in Europe, which will indicate whether the trend is accelerating.
  • Police operations targeting specific named groups, especially the PCC, Sinaloa cartel and 'Ndrangheta (as a key local partner).
  • Political responses from the European Union, including any new funding for joint task forces or changes to port security protocols.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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