Europol identifies 821 “very threatening” organized crime networks in the EU

The European police cooperation agency, Europol, has identified 821 organized crime networks “very threatening” in the European Union (EU). Many of them carry out their criminal activities in Spain. among other countries.

A report published this Fridaythe first to analyze in depth the details that make these organizations so dangerous, is based on data provided by the member states and 17 partner countries of the police agency.

The study, presented in Brusselsis a “step” to understand how these networks work and what their basic capabilities are, Europol indicated.

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In Spain, networks made up of nationals of eastern countriesas well as Belgian-Dutch, Baltic, Romanian and Polish, among others.

“Each of the 821 most threatening criminal networks identified is unique. They vary significantly in terms of composition, structure, criminal activityterritorial control, duration over time, types of cooperation and a variety of other dimensions,” the document indicates.

However, there are some common characteristics that make them especially “threatening”, starting with their infiltration into the legal systemwhich make a network “ubiquitous and destructive.”

In fact, more than 80% of active criminal networks in the EU do misuse of legal business structures (LBS) for their criminal activities.

The data shows that these structures are infiltrated or used by criminal networks “in almost all sectors, including tourism, recycling, wellness and sports associations, as well as in retail and cultural activities.”

Three sectors are particularly affected by criminal infiltration or abuse: construction, hospitality and logistics, i.e. transport and import-export companies.

Another characteristic of the most dangerous organizations is their “agility” to “infiltrate extensively” and the application of strategies that allow them to last over time.

Furthermore, “they have no borders”, their scope is international as well as their members, although they often limit their criminal activity to one region or a limited number of countries.

Regarding how they are directed, Europol explains that although strong leadership close to operations is usually observed, it is also possible to maintain control remotely.

They tend to specialize in one core business and operate with a large degree of independence.

Drug traffic

Regarding their activity, half of these organizations are involved in drug trafficking as main business although they are also dedicated to fraud, crimes related to property, migrant and human trafficking.

Money laundering is carried out mainly through real estate (this happens in 41% of cases).

Other common money laundering techniques include investments in high-value assets such as gold and jewelry items. luxury (27%), the use of cash-intensive businesses, for example in the hotel sector (20%) and the use of cryptocurrencies (10%).

As an example, the report cites the case of an Italian businessman of Argentine origin living in Marbella who uses his companies to hide both drug trafficking and money laundering activities.

Among those he runs is one that imports bananas from Ecuador to the EU and also owns sports centers in Marbella, shopping centers in Granada and multiple bars and restaurants.

An Albanian accomplice of his, living in Ecuador, is in charge of importing cocaine from Colombia to Ecuador and its subsequent distribution to the EU.

According to Europol, the Ecuadorian fruit companies They are used as a front for these criminal activities.

Although not all networks use violence and corruption, doing so increases their threat level.

There are other elements to better understand their operation, but that do not necessarily make them more dangerous, starting with their structure.

Most are organized hierarchically, and while strong leadership is important, it is not necessarily linked to specific individuals and in some cases is replaceable (by inheritance, delegation or reorganization) and continues even after conviction.

Regarding the nationalities of the members, the report points to the “great variety” that exists and highlights that, in addition to the common criminal objective, “criminal networks are formed and persist due to strong social cohesion”, something that also serves to attract young people.

When combating them, Europol indicates, “not only the main criminal activities, but also the supporting and subsidiary activities that allow and support networks and allow them to last for long periods”, as well as the need for “international and interregional cooperation”.