Decoding the EU’s most threatening criminal networks

This report delves into the inner workings of the criminal networks that pose the highest threat to the EU’s security. The report, which features a Europe-wide analysis from the perspective of law enforcement, is a first of its kind. It describes, in detail, how the most threatening criminal networks are organised, which criminal activities they engage in, and how and where they operate. The report also assesses which specific characteristics the criminal networks hold that increase the threat to the EU’s internal security.

All EU Member States and 17 of Europol’s partner countries contributed data to identify the most threatening criminal networks in Europe. This resulted in a unique dataset of 821 most threatening criminal networks, with extensive information on all aspects that describe them and help assess their threat.

This mapping report is one of the key deliverables of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union, which strongly encouraged the efforts of Europol in this respect. It will be an essential tool to fight organised crime going forward, which is a top EU priority, as outlined in the recent roadmap presented by the European Commission.

Download Europol report