Why Europol Says Organised Crime Is the Biggest Threat You Are Not Watching
Drug trafficking, cybercrime, and money laundering networks are growing faster than European law enforcement can respond.
The scale of the problem
Europe drug market is now worth an estimated 31 billion euros annually β larger than the GDP of several EU member states. Cocaine seizures at European ports have doubled in five years. Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg have become the primary entry points for South American cartels, who have established permanent logistics operations on European soil.
But drugs are only part of the picture. Cybercrime losses across the EU exceeded 10 billion euros in 2025. Ransomware attacks on hospitals, municipalities, and critical infrastructure have become weekly events. And money laundering networks β often operating through real estate, cryptocurrency, and shell companies β process hundreds of billions in illicit funds through European financial systems each year.
The most alarming trend is infiltration of legitimate institutions. In Belgium and the Netherlands, law enforcement has documented cases of port workers, customs officials, and even police officers being recruited or coerced by criminal networks. In Italy, anti-mafia prosecutors warn that organised crime groups are increasingly using EU recovery funds as a laundering vehicle.