A closer look at “Latin American Cartels Expand Across Europe as Cocaine Seizures Surge 471% in a Decade”, exactly as the source publishes it. Latin American organised crime groups are now operating in at least 12 European countries, according to a four-month Guardian investigation that links their expanding presence to a 471% rise in cocaine seizures between 2014 and 2024. The probe, drawing on databases, police and intelligence agencies, and interviews with judges, prosecutors, and experts from eight countries, found that cartels and factions from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico, and the US have forged close ties with local mafia organisations. More local laboratories processing cocaine derivatives were dismantled over the period.
The findings reveal a continent-wide shift, with European ports and cities becoming key hubs for trafficking. As cocaine availability grows, public health and security challenges are expected to intensify across the region. This listing links straight to the original page, where the content is available in full.