lhe European Police Office (Europol) has identified 821 “very threatening” organized crime networks in the European Union, many of them active in Spain among other countries, in a report published this Friday, the first to analyze in depth the details that make these organizations so dangerous.
The study, presented in Brussels, is based on data provided by EU Member States and other countries and is a “step” to understand how these networks work and what their basic capabilities are, Europol indicated.
Networks made up of nationals from Eastern countries, as well as Belgian-Dutch, Baltic, Romanian and Polish nationals operate in Spain, among others.
Europol presents its report identifying the most threatening criminal networks in the EU.
It is one of the key deliverables of our Presidency, which strongly encouraged the efforts of @Europol.
Read more about how it will be an essential tool to fight organized crime. pic.twitter.com/qrqmZdv7G5
— Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024 (@EU2024BE) April 5, 2024
“Each of the 821 most threatening criminal networks identified is unique. “They varied significantly in terms of composition, structure, criminal activity, territorial control, duration over time, types of cooperation and a variety of other dimensions,” the document states.
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 criminal networks active in the EU misuse legal business structures (LBS) for their criminal activities.
Belgian Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt speaks during a Europol hybrid press conference to present a report on the most threatening criminal networks in the European Union, in Brussels on April 4, 2024.
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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.”
These structures are infiltrated or used by criminal networks in almost all sectors, including tourism, recycling, wellness and sports associations.
Three sectors are particularly affected by criminal infiltration or abuse: construction, hospitality and logisticsthat is, transport and import and 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”, Its reach is international as well as their members, although they often limit their criminal activity to one region or a limited number of countries.
How are they directed?
Europol explains that although strong leadership close to operations is usually observed, it is also possible to maintain the remote control.
They tend to specialize in one core business and operate with a large degree of independence.
The Mexican justice system only resolved 5% of the money laundering complaints that arose in 2016.
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Regarding their activity, half of these organizations are involved in drug trafficking as their main business although they are also dedicated to fraud, crimes related to property, migrant and human trafficking.
Money laundering is carried out mainly through the real estate sector (this happens in 41% of cases).
Other common money laundering techniques include investments in high-value assets such as gold and luxury goods (27%), the use of cash-intensive businesses, for example in the hospitality 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 the importation of cocaine from Colombia to Ecuador and its subsequent distribution to the EU.
According to Europol, Ecuadorian fruit companies are used as a front for these criminal activities.
Banana export (Reference image)
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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 tied to specific individuals and in some cases is replaceable (by inheritance, delegation or reorganization) and continues even after conviction.
In addition to the common criminal objective, criminal networks form and persist due to strong social cohesion
Regarding the nationalities of the members, the report points to the “great variety” that exists and emphasizes 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 enable and support the networks and allow them to last for long periods” must be examined, as well as the need to “international and interregional “cooperation”.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, Belgian Home Affairs Minister Annelies Verlinden, former Belgian Commissioner General of the Federal Police Catherine De Bolle, Belgian Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt and Belgian Mr Didier Reynders .
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EFE
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