How Balkan Crime Groups Rose to Power in South America's Drug Trade

• Apr 03, 2025

Over the past two decades, crime groups from the Western Balkans have become key players in South America’s cocaine trade, building strong global networks. A new report by the Global Initiative for Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) reveals how these groups expanded from regional actors to major international players, controlling supply chains from production hubs in South America to markets in Europe and beyond.

Europol investigations have linked nearly half of recent cocaine trafficking cases to Western Balkan networks. The GI-TOC report estimates that 40-60% of their operations are now global, with drug trafficking as their primary business.

From Local Smugglers to Global Drug Lords

The rise of these groups has been fueled by two key factors: increased cocaine production in South America and high demand in Europe. Unlike traditional European traffickers who buy from middlemen, Balkan groups work directly with South American producers, cutting costs and maximizing profits.

Their influence has grown quietly but effectively. According to GI-TOC’s Felipe Botero Escobar, Balkan criminals have avoided direct conflicts with local cartels, allowing them to operate with minimal resistance. In some cases, they have even formed relationships with influential business and political figures in the region.

War Experience and Smuggling Expertise

Beyond favorable market conditions, these groups have used their wartime experience and smuggling skills to dominate the drug trade. The conflicts in the Balkans during the 1990s created conditions for organized crime to thrive. Many criminals involved in war-era smuggling transitioned into the global drug market, leveraging their networks and logistical expertise.

Their reputation for violence has made them feared figures in the underworld. Since 2010, at least 19 people linked to Western Balkan cocaine traffickers have been murdered in South America, with most killings occurring in Ecuador.

A Strategic Presence in the Cocaine Supply Chain

Balkan crime groups now control a significant portion of the cocaine trade, using Europe as their primary market. Cocaine consumption in the EU remains high, with 3.5 million adults using the drug in 2021. While prices have stayed stable, purity levels have increased due to improved processing.

Ecuador has become a key hub for Balkan traffickers, who use the country for storage and shipments. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that Ecuador seized a record 200 tonnes of cocaine in 2021.

Future Challenges and Risks

While the Western Balkan groups have successfully expanded, their dominance is not guaranteed. Competition from local and Mexican cartels, as well as increased law enforcement efforts, could threaten their operations. However, their ability to adapt, build alliances, and navigate complex criminal environments suggests they will remain major players in the global cocaine trade.