International

Europol identifies 821 “threatening” criminal networks in the EU, many active in Spain

The Europol agency has identified 821 “very threatening” organized crime networks in the European Union, many of them active in Spain among other countries, in a report published this Friday, the first that analyzes in depth the details that make these organizations so dangerous.

The study, presented in Brussels, is based on the data provided by EU Member States and other countries and is a “step” to understand how these networks work and what their basic capabilities are, Europol said.

In Spain they operate networks integrated by nationals of Eastern countries, as well as Belgian-Dutch, Baltic, Romanian or Polish, among others.

“Each of the 821 most threatening criminal networks identified is unique. They vary significantly in terms of composition, structure, criminal activity, territorial control, duration over time, types of cooperation and a variety of other dimensions,” the document says.

However, there are some common characteristics that make them especially “threatening,” starting with their infiltration into the legal system, which make a network “omnipresent and destructive.”

20250301_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20241211_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

In fact, more than 80% of active criminal networks in the EU misuse legal business structures (LBS) for their criminal activities.

The data show that these structures are infiltrated or used by criminal networks “in almost all sectors, including tourism, recycling, welfare and sports associations, as well as in retail and cultural activities.”

Three sectors are particularly affected by infiltration or criminal abuse: construction, hospitality and logistics, that is, transport and import and export companies.

Another characteristic of the most dangerous organizations is their “agility” to “infiltrate extensively” and the application of strategies that allow them to endure over time.

In addition, “they have no borders”, their scope is international as well as the members that make them up, although they often limit their criminal activity to a region or a limited number of countries.

20250301_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20241211_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

About how they are directed, Europol explains that although there is usually a strong leadership close to operations, it is also possible to maintain control remotely.

They tend to specialize in a main business and operate with a wide degree of independence.

As for their activity, half of these organizations are involved in drug trafficking as their main business, although they are also dedicated to fraud, property-related crimes, migrant and human trafficking.

Money laundering is mainly done through the real estate sector (this is the case in 41% of cases).

Other common money laundering techniques include investments in high-value goods such as gold and luxury goods (27%), the use of cash-intensive businesses, for example in the hotel sector (20%) and the use of cryptocurrencies (10%).

20250301_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20241211_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

As an example, the report cites the case of an Italian businessman of Argentine origin based in Marbella who uses his companies to hide both drug trafficking and money laundering activities.

Among those he directs is one that imports bananas from Ecuador to the EU and also has sports centers in Marbella, shopping centers in Granada and multiple bars and restaurants.

An Albanian accomplice of his, based in Ecuador, is in charge of the import of cocaine from Colombia to Ecuador and its subsequent distribution to the EU.

According to Europol, Ecuadorian fruit companies are used as a facade for these criminal activities.

Although not all networks use violence and corruption, doing so increases their level of threat.

20250301_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20241211_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

There are other elements to better understand how they work but that do not necessarily make them more dangerous, starting with their structure.

Most are organized in a hierarchical way, and although strong leadership is important, it is not necessarily linked to specific individuals and in some cases it is replaceable (by inheritance, delegation or reorganization) and continues even after the sentence.

As for the nationalities of the members, the report points to the existing “great variety” and emphasizes that, in addition to the common criminal objective, “criminal networks are formed and persist due to a strong social cohesion,” something that also serves to attract young people.

When fighting them, Europol indicates, “not only the main criminal activities, but also the support and subsidiary activities that allow and support the networks and allow them to last long periods,” as well as the need for “international and interregional cooperation” must be examined.

20250301_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20241211_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

International

Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal

Paraguay summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Asunción on Tuesday to demand “explanations” and called its own representative in Brasília for consultations following Brazil’s acknowledgment of an espionage operation. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attributed the operation to the previous administration.

The surveillance effort aimed to uncover Paraguay’s position in now-suspended negotiations with Brazil regarding the pricing of electricity from the binational Itaipú hydroelectric plant, according to reports in the Brazilian press.

The Brazilian government “categorically denied any involvement in the intelligence operation,” stating in a Foreign Ministry communiqué on Monday that the espionage was carried out under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2023).

“The operation was authorized by the previous government in June 2022 and was annulled by the interim director of the (state intelligence agency) ABIN on March 27, 2023, as soon as the current administration became aware of it,” Brazil’s government asserted.

Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced that Brazilian Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho was summoned “to provide detailed explanations” regarding the operation. Additionally, Paraguay recalled its diplomatic representative in Brasília “to report on aspects related to the intelligence activity conducted by Brazil regarding Paraguay’s government affairs.”

20250301_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20241211_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

International

Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders

President Donald Trump has informed his inner circle that Elon Musk will be stepping down from his role as a government advisor, according to a report by Politico today.

Citing three individuals close to Trump, Politico states that the president is pleased with Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has implemented significant budget cuts. However, both have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his businesses and support Trump from a different position outside the government.

A senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely maintain an informal advisory role and continue to be an occasional visitor to the White House. Another source warned that anyone thinking Musk will completely disappear from Trump’s circle is “deluding themselves.”

According to the sources, this transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee,” a temporary status that exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations. This 130-day period is set to expire in late May or early June.

International

Milei vows to make Argentina so strong that Falkland Islanders “choose” to join

Argentine President Javier Milei reaffirmed his country’s claim over the Falkland Islands (known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina) and praised the role of the nation’s armed forces during a ceremony marking the “Veterans and Fallen Soldiers of the Malvinas War Day,” commemorating 43 years since the 1982 conflict with the United Kingdom.

Argentina continues to assert sovereignty over the islands, arguing that Britain unlawfully seized them in 1833.

“If sovereignty over the Malvinas is the issue, we have always made it clear that the most important vote is the one cast with one’s feet. We hope that one day, the Malvinas residents will choose to vote with their feet and join us,” Milei stated.

“That is why we aim to become a global power—so much so that they would prefer to be Argentine, making deterrence or persuasion unnecessary. This is why we have embarked on a path of liberation, working to make Argentina the freest country in the world and once again the nation with the highest GDP per capita on the planet,” he added.