The Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has identified 112 countries as being home to some of the most threatening criminal groups in Europe. These groups come from countries such as Albania, Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy. Additionally, third countries, particularly Turkish and Ukrainian criminal groups, operate in collaboration with partners within the EU. Despite this, criminal organizations are able to operate in foreign territories without having members from that region in their ranks. Only 36% of criminal networks in Latin America have members from the region, with 68% being composed of members from multiple countries.
Although criminal activities have become increasingly internationalized, the majority of criminal groups maintain a certain geographical concentration and do not extend their operations too broadly. Seventy-six percent of the most threatening criminal networks are present or active in two to seven countries, while less than a quarter operate in more than seven countries. The report highlights Dubai as a key center for coordinating criminal activities remotely, where high-level members and other criminal actors can coordinate activities and impede law enforcement efforts. Cooperation between criminal organizations in Eastern Europe shifts depending on the operation, such as tobacco trafficking, VAT and customs fraud, online fraud, and migrant trafficking.
Dubai serves as a neutral meeting point for criminal organizations, allowing them to operate at a distance from law enforcement while leaving low-level members to face physical and judicial risks in their home countries. The report suggests that criminal networks may form alliances purely for opportunistic reasons, with members of various nationalities collaborating on criminal projects. This form of diplomatic alliance serves to further criminal activities and evade law enforcement intervention. Despite the international nature of criminal activities, many criminal groups still maintain regional ties and have a strong geographic presence within Europe.
Overall, the report highlights the complex and interconnected nature of criminal organizations operating within Europe and abroad. While certain criminal groups may have a broader international reach, many remain focused on specific regions and maintain cooperative relationships with other criminal entities. The use of Dubai as a remote coordination center underscores the adaptability and resourcefulness of these criminal networks in evading law enforcement efforts and continuing their illicit activities. The report sheds light on the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating transnational organized crime and emphasizes the need for international cooperation to effectively address this ongoing threat.
