Mapping and profiling of the most threatening criminal networks in Latin America and the Caribbean

Studying these high-risk criminal networks is crucial to understanding the flow of illicit goods from Latin America to Europe and is essential for developing effective strategies to dismantle such structures.

Following an analysis of various factors—including their criminal economies, geographic distribution, and state responses—EL PACCTO 2.0 and InSight Crime, with the support of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), particularly under Operational Action 8.3 of the High-Risk Criminal Networks (HRCN) initiative, have identified and classified the 28 most active or significant high-risk criminal networks in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This work highlights key operational patterns and reveals strategic opportunities to combat organised crime in the region, with direct implications for both Latin America and Europe.