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Latin American organised crime ‘may operate in 16 European countries’

Global Published 13 October 2026, 12:00 · archived 13 Oct 2026

Cocaine seizures in Europe are up more than fivefold in 10 years as a host of cartels take root. A four-month Guardian investigation reveals the true scale of a continent-wide shiftA four-month investigation by the Guardian has revealed that the surge in cocaine trafficking to Europe is directly linked to the expanding presence of Latin American criminal networks in Europe, where they have forged close ties with local mafia organisations.The investigation, utilising databases, police and intelligence agencies, along with interviews with judges, prosecutors and experts from eight countries, sho...

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