Europol: Moroccans involved in across EU’s most threatening criminal networks

The European Police Office “Europol” revealed in a recent report  that Moroccan nationals are active within Europe’s “most threatening criminal networks.”

The report, encompassing 821 organizations involving around 25,000 individuals of different nationalities inside and outside the EU, was accomplished through cooperation between EU member states and partner countries of Europol.

Europol identifies the most threatening criminal networks to the internal security of the EU, drawing up a profile of members.  

The output highlighted characteristics and behaviors as well as the key features that increase their criminal threat level.

It was noted that among the networks operating in Belgium and the Netherlands, criminal organizations are originating from other countries, particularly Morocco and Turkey.

The same source noted that some criminal organizations in certain countries include key members from different nationalities, notably Albania, Britain, Italy, Morocco, and Turkey.

These networks operate in over 40 countries, mainly engaging in cocaine trafficking, to a lesser extent in cannabis trafficking and money laundering, with a strong presence in Belgium, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, and also operations in the UAE outside the EU.

The findings revealed that “all criminal networks consisting of key Moroccan members include elements of different nationalities collaborating with Belgian, Dutch, and Spanish criminals, maintaining close relations with Morocco.” 

These criminal networks participate in drug trafficking, particularly cocaine as well as cannabis, and operate primarily in Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.

The report additionally mentioned that all criminal networks comprising key Spanish members consist of elements from multiple nationalities collaborating and sharing key positions primarily engaged in drug trafficking, environmental crimes, and fraud.

It noted that these organizations operate in nearly 50 countries, notably Belgium, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.