European and South American law enforcement authorities continue to intensify their efforts to dismantle the main criminal networks responsible for cocaine trafficking to Europe. Three recent operations, coordinated with the support of Europol, highlight both the complexity of the routes used by organised crime and the growing importance of international cooperation to address it. These actions have affected networks with connections to Colombia, Brazil, and Greece, and have allowed interventions at all stages of the criminal chain: from the origin of the drugs to their reception on the European continent.
The first investigation focused on a network led by a Dutch citizen who had direct contact with high-level traffickers in Colombia. The individual, 56 years old, resided in Ibiza but frequently travelled to The Netherlands and other European countries. According to the authorities, he coordinated the entry of large shipments of cocaine into Europe with the active support of his two sons.
The case came to light as a result of information obtained from the encrypted platform Sky ECC, a tool widely used by criminal organisations and which has been key in numerous European investigations. Based on this data, the Dutch police deployed surveillance operations, intelligence analysis, and wire-taps that allowed for the identification of ongoing attempts to coordinate new shipments.
The network was linked to six cocaine shipments intercepted in the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. On 2 December 2025, the main suspect was arrested in Ibiza, while his children, aged 31 and 23, were arrested in The Hague and Haarlem.
Major Brazilian operation against large-scale maritime trafficking
The second operation targeted a Brazilian criminal organisation specialised in large-scale maritime cocaine transport in Europe. The group was responsible for acquiring vessels, training crews, and modifying fishing boats to hide the drugs.
The routes used included departure points on the Brazilian coast and an intermediate stage in West Africa, before the final transfer to European waters.
A key moment in the investigation took place in November 2024, when Portuguese authorities, in collaboration with the Brazilian federal police and authorities from Cape Verde, intercepted a Brazilian-flagged fishing vessel off the west coast of Cape Verde. 1.6 tonnes of cocaine were found on board and six crew members were arrested.
Subsequently, in September 2025, law enforcement dismantled the European branch of the network, with 37 arrests in Spain, including the person responsible for the logistics infrastructure. Finally, on 11 December 2025, a coordinated operation in Brazil culminated in eight new arrests, including two high-value targets, and the seizure of assets worth over 1.5 million euros.
Greek criminal network and at-sea transfers
The third operation targeted a Greek criminal network that used the at-sea transfer method for cocaine trafficking. The group deployed a fishing vessel that left Greece, travelled a route passing through West Africa, and crossed the Atlantic to pick up a shipment from Latin America.
On 14 December 2025, authorities arrested ten suspects: five crew members at sea and five individuals in Greece, including one high-value target.
The key role of Europol and international cooperation
In both cases, Europol acted as the central hub of international cooperation, facilitating the exchange of information, providing analytical support, and coordinating operational meetings among the involved countries. Other key agencies such as Frontex and MAOC-(N) also participated, especially in maritime operations.
These actions are part of the broader European Union strategy against organised crime, coordinated through the EMPACT platform. The cases demonstrate that only through sustained, multilevel, and transnational cooperation is it possible to effectively tackle the structures that support cocaine trafficking to Europe.
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