EU's most threatening criminal networks enter legal economy

Crime webs are penetrating legitimate businesses across the 27-nation bloc, relying heavily on corruption to develop their activities.

Transcript

00:00 Europol's released a report on the criminal networks that most threaten the EU.

00:05 Half of them are either partly or solely involved in drug trafficking it found,

00:09 and many rely heavily on corruption.

00:11 112 different nationalities are involved in what is often cross-border crime,

00:16 and an incredible 86% of them have infiltrated the legal economy

00:20 to hide their activities and launder their profits.

00:25 These 821 most dangerous criminal networks and their 25,000 members

00:33 commit crimes for profit and are capable of operating in multiple countries simultaneously.

00:43 They are active in a range of crime areas, from drug trafficking to fraud,

00:48 property crime, migrant smuggling or trafficking in human beings.

00:53 Half of them are involved in drug trafficking.

00:58 This drugs bust in Spain is one of many police successes across Europe,

01:02 but elsewhere, such as in Antwerp in Belgium, the drugs trade is flourishing.

01:07 The port city has been the main gateway for Latin American cocaine into the EU for years,

01:12 and gang violence remains rife.

01:14 It's seen Belgians increasingly use drugs,

01:17 and the authorities say the trafficking is now rapidly penetrating society.

01:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]