Huge rise in cocaine trafficking to Europe as Latin American cartels expand reach

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Latin American criminal organizations, including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels and Brazil’s PCC, have significantly expanded cocaine trafficking operations across at least 20 European countries, leading to a 471% increase in cocaine seizures from 2014 to 2024. This surge highlights Europe’s growing role as a lucrative market for cocaine and presents escalating challenges for law enforcement adapting to the widespread and diversified presence of these transnational networks.

A significant increase in cocaine trafficking to Europe has been linked to the expanding operations of Latin American criminal organisations across the continent, according to a recent investigation involving law enforcement data and expert interviews from eight countries. The findings reveal that between 2014 and 2024, cocaine seizures in Europe rose by 471%, accompanied by the dismantling of more local laboratories processing cocaine derivatives.

The investigation identified active cartel and gang networks from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico, and the United States operating in at least 12 European nations. These include Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel and Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG); Colombia’s Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrillas, and dissident Farc factions; Brazil’s Primeiro Comando do Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV); Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua; and US-originated gangs Barrio 18 and MS-13. Their presence has grown notably in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France and has been reported in Germany, Romania, Croatia, Slovakia, and Bulgaria.

Daniel Bromhaber, director of the Europe Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (Gi-Toc), highlighted the unprecedented reach of these groups into regions without prior infrastructure. He pointed to recent police operations uncovering Mexican-run methamphetamine laboratories in southern France, northeastern Poland, and near Berlin, as well as activities along the Balkan route in Romania and Bulgaria.

An internal report from the São Paulo public prosecutor’s office, drawing on Brazilian intelligence data, indicates that the PCC alone operates across 16 European countries, including the UK, Ireland, Iceland, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey. Latin American law enforcement officials believe the extent of cartel influence in Europe may be broader than currently documented.

The involvement of Latin American groups in Europe is not new. In the 1980s, Colombian cartels such as Cali and Medellín established footholds in parts of Spain. However, current patterns reflect a significant escalation in both scale and geographic spread. A 2026 Europol report described Latin American criminal networks as highly mobile, directing operations within the EU that now extend beyond traditional gateway countries.

Growth in cocaine production in Latin America over the past decade has contributed to these developments. Global output rose roughly fourfold to a record estimated between 3,800 and 4,700 tonnes in 2024, with Colombia producing more cocaine than at the peak of Pablo Escobar’s era. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime World Drug Report 2026, coca cultivation now covers about 385,000 hectares, triple the area reported in 2014.

Experts note that Europe has become an attractive market for traffickers due to higher profit margins compared to the United States. Since the early 2010s, European law enforcement agencies have seized larger quantities of cocaine, with the continent accounting for approximately 25% of global consumption.

Victor Manuel Sánchez Valdés, an academic specialising in organised crime, emphasized the widespread reach of Latin American groups across Europe, particularly the business-focused presence of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel and CJNG. While these cartels may not control extensive cells, they operate as key intermediaries facilitating trafficking networks throughout more than 20 European countries.

Interpol, led by Brazilian federal police officer Valdecy Urquiza, declined to comment on the findings. The intensifying presence of Latin American cartels in Europe continues to challenge law enforcement agencies as they adapt to evolving criminal landscapes.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.