International Law Enforcement Agency Warns of Potential Victory for Mafia Over German Authorities
The global law enforcement community issuing an alarm: Criminal syndicates are growing in power. These organized groups now have the capacity to potentially "disrupt established nations," including industrialized countries in Europe. The illicit drug trade continues to be the primary revenue source, with territorial battles reportedly starting in certain regions of Germany.
Outgoing Interpol Chief Jürgen Stock is raising concerns about globally active criminal organizations. "The world is at risk of losing the battle against transnational organized crime," Stock stated. The capacity of these groups to "even destabilize industrialized nations" has reached a new high, he added.
Stock, who is set to step down from his position as Interpol's head after a ten-year tenure in November, has mentioned Brazilian Valdecy Urquiza as the likely successor. Interpol is the world's largest police organization, comprising 196 member states and coordinating international police cooperation.
Stock emphasized that previously regional criminal organizations have now expanded their operations to all continents. "They have gone global, operating like global corporations," the senior officer said, highlighting their "unprecedented resources" for activities such as human and weapon trafficking.
Cocaine remains a significant issue
However, the primary revenue source continues to be the illicit drug trade, particularly cocaine. This issue is becoming increasingly prominent in Central European nations, including Germany. "We're dealing with a wide range of drugs on the criminal market. But right now, cocaine is proving to be a major problem," Stock further added.
Despite reported record drug seizures in Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg ports, street prices and availability have remained unaffected - a clear indication of an abundant supply. Estimates suggest that law enforcement agencies only manage to seize about 15-20% of all drug imports.
This is problematic due to the increasing presence of synthetic opioid fentanyl in drugs. "We are seeing it seep into European markets," says Interpol's Chief. Fentanyl is considered more dangerous than other drugs, with experts suggesting it's around 50 times stronger than heroin. A potentially lethal dose is considered to be just 2 milligrams.
"Port authorities are clearly compromised"
Fentanyl has contributed to a significant drug problem in the United States, leading to tens of thousands of deaths. According to a US national institute focusing on drug abuse, over 70,000 people died from fentanyl-related overdoses alone in 2021.
According to Stock, cocaine primarily originates from South American cartels, particularly in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. It is transported onto ships in ports like Guayaquil, Ecuador. "From there, the market becomes highly flexible," Stock explained. This highly profitable drug reaches Europe through various routes, resulting in a street price of about 70-90 euros per gram.
One of the routes leads through politically unstable West Africa, with drugs eventually reaching North Africa and the Mediterranean region. A significant challenge in these ports, including European ones, is the level of corruption, often reported by local police chiefs. "The influx of drugs can only be explained by the fact that the port authorities and those working there are clearly compromised," Stock said.
"There are also reports from Germany"
Along this route, the drug trade often results in violence. Similarly, the final stage of illegal supply involves street-level sales, leading to territorial disputes among local gangs. "And because it's so profitable, they also fight for their territory in this phase," said Stock, citing examples like Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands. "But there are also reports from Germany, indicating that this conflict has begun, at least in parts of the country," he added.
To combat this threat, Stock advocates for enhanced cooperation among national law enforcement agencies. He suggests focusing on targeting the ten to fifteen largest groups.
The Commission has expressed concerns about the growing power of global criminal syndicates, echoing Outgoing Interpol Chief Jürgen Stock's warnings. These criminal organizations, operating like global corporations, pose a significant threat, capable of disrupting established nations and even destabilizing industrialized nations.
Furthermore, the Commission highlighted the issue of port authorities being compromised, a challenge acknowledged by Interpol's Chief, contributing to the unfettered flow of illicit drugs such as cocaine, particularly fentanyl.
