Europe sees a rise of narcotics shipments from Latin America

 

Europe sees a rise of narcotics shipments from Latin America

Narcotics shipments from Latin America to Europe, specifically cocaine, have reached unprecedented levels as of early 2026. This surge is driven by record-high production in South America and a growing, high-purity market within the European Union.

 

Key Trends & Statistics

Record Seizures: In 2024, Spain reported its largest-ever single shipment seizure of 13 tonnes of cocaine hidden in bananas from Ecuador. Germany's seizures also spiked, reaching 43 tonnes in 2023, nearly double the previous year's figures.

Market Shift: Traffickers are increasingly pivoting toward Europe as the North American cocaine market stagnates.

Maritime Dominance: Approximately 80% of all cocaine seizures are linked to maritime routes, with major ports like Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg serving as primary entry points.

Wastewater Evidence: Analysis of city wastewater showed an 80% increase in cocaine use across Western and Central Europe between 2011 and 2024.

 

Evolving Trafficking Tactics

Criminal networks have diversified their methods to evade intensified law enforcement:

"Mother" & "Daughter" Vessels: Large vessels from Latin America transfer drugs to smaller boats off the coast of West Africa, which then bring the cargo to the Canary Islands or mainland Spain.

Technical Innovation: Increased use of semi-submersibles (narco-subs), high-speed rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs), and GPS-tagged "floating drops" for sea recovery.

Chemical Masking: Traffickers are increasingly "impregnating" cocaine into carrier materials like charcoal, cardboard, or plastic, requiring sophisticated chemical extraction in European laboratories.

Decentralized Networks: No single group controls the entire chain. Instead, fluid alliances between groups like the Sinaloa Cartel, Brazil's PCC, and European "super-cartels" (e.g., Albanian networks) manage different logistics stages.

 

Regional Impact

Ecuador as a "Superhighway": Once a transit-only country, Ecuador has become a critical departure point, with the port of Guayaquil seeing massive "container contamination" by gangs.

Secondary Ports: To avoid heat at major hubs like Antwerp, traffickers are shifting toward smaller ports in Portugal, Sweden, and Greece.

Rising Violence: This trade has exported Latin American-style gang violence to Europe, with 50% of all homicides in the EU now directly connected to drug trafficking.

The EU has responded by launching the European Ports Alliance and the EU Roadmap against Drug Trafficking to enhance container scanning and port security.