Europol warns that organized crime groups from Latin America are expanding their operations across European Union member states, engaging in drug trafficking, human smuggling, and property crimes. The report identifies at least 22 such organizations, primarily composed of Latin American citizens, operating in southern and western Europe. These groups exploit weak border controls and operate as flexible networks rather than fixed hierarchies. Notable groups include the Colombian Clan del Golfo and the Brazilian PCC, which have close ties to European criminal networks. Additionally, Ecuador’s Los Lobos are linked to Albanian criminal organizations. Victims of human trafficking, often from Latin America, are recruited through social media with promises of work and housing, though they are unaware of the exploitative conditions they will face.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information provided by Europol regarding the activities of Latin American criminal organizations in Europe without overtly favoring any political ideology. It reports on the scale and nature of these criminal networks, their methods, and their impact, based on official,





