Despite Colombian government efforts against cocaine over the past decade, data show that cocaine production continues to multiply. The UN reported that the country reached 253,000 hectares of coca leaf planted in its territory in 2023, five times more than in 2013. Its cocaine production potential, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), grew 53% between 2022 and 2023 alone. The situation is so critical that Colombia is on alert for the possible loss of its certification by the United States as an ally in the fight against drug trafficking. Exclusion would mean a reduction in economic and military aid and could affect U.S. investment.

In this context, mafias have found fertile ground to satisfy a growing demand: the UNODC noted in its most recent report that, despite the expansion of synthetic drugs, cocaine continues to boom in Europe and has gained presence in Asia, Oceania, and Africa. "As long as this demand persists, European networks will continue to seek alliances with Colombian groups," García added.

Drug trafficking
The Italian mafia’s tentacles in Colombia: Cheaper cocaine and ties with the Gulf Clan

https://english.elpais.com/internat...cocaine-and-ties-with-the-gulf-clan.html

https://grapevine.is/news/2025/04/07/two-teenage-girls-in-custody-following-drug-smuggling-case/

Two Teenage Girls In Custody Following Drug Smuggling Case

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-removes-criminal-alien-wanted-drug-trafficking-costa-rica

ICE removes criminal alien wanted for drug trafficking in Costa Rica

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/stor...than-1500-traffickers-in-major-crackdown

Iraq Seizes Over Two Tons of Drugs, Arrests More Than 1,500 Traffickers in Major Crackdown

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2596200/saudi-arabia

Drug smuggling operations foiled across Kingdom

https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/04...-drug-gang-is-indicted-in-new-york-city/

Fugitive leader of violent Ecuadorian drug gang is indicted in New York City

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/070420252

Iraqi forces foil smuggling of 400,000 Captagon pills from Syria

https://insightcrime.org/news/five-...organized-crime-latin-america-caribbean/

5 Years Later, How Has the Pandemic Changed Organized Crime in Latin America and the Caribbean?

https://wfin.com/fox-national-news/...rison-after-drug-trafficking-conviction/

Former New Mexico college football player faces possible life in prison after drug trafficking conviction

https://dialogo-americas.com/articles/colombia-us-iron-will-in-the-fight-against-narcotrafficking/

Colombia-US, ‘Iron Will’ in the Fight Against Narcotrafficking

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...lion-pound-cocaine-smuggling-empire.html

The unlikely English village home of a multi-million pound cocaine smuggling empire run by Eastern European gang

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gulf-clan-cartel-members-commander-killed-colombia/


Crime
8 members of powerful cartel shot dead days after one of its top commanders killed in Colombia

https://www.justice.gov/opa/video/j...g-offload-more-509-million-illegal-drugs


Justice Department, FBI Join U.S. Coast Guard During Offload of More than $509 Million in Illegal Drugs

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/m...rtel-losses-says-security-chief/3532259#

Mexico dismantles over 750 drug labs under Sheinbaum, causing 'multi-million' cartel losses, says security chief

Harfuch highlights major seizures, arrests in first six months of new administration

https://uwpexponent.com/news/2025/04/09/narco-sub-seized-by-portugal/

Narco Sub Seized by Portugal

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/...on-dollar-industry-mexican-drug-cartels/

Treasury Department: Fentanyl Is a Billion-Dollar Enterprise for Mexican Drug Cartels

It's mad though the demand for cocaine in Europe is huge not only hookers or working class but doctors businessmen accountants lawyers students etc.. How can you stop them using lol..

https://www.wgauradio.com/news/loca...ican-cartels/S5ADTFSZERF25CAMF7AICGBMCM/

Massive fentanyl seizure in Atlanta linked to Mexican Cartels

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/...-arrests-in-operation-bulut-europol-says

Digital tracking on encrypted platforms leads to drugs smuggling bust, Europol says

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/...intl-operation-to-combat-drug-trade/news

Turkish police lead major int'l operation to combat drug trade

https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/04/14/cocaine-drug-found-on-two-british-airways-flights/

Cocaine Drug Found on Two British Airways 777 Operated Flights from Americas

https://balkaninsight.com/2025/04/10/croatia-arrests-45-in-raids-targeting-drug-smuggling-gangs/

Croatia Arrests 45 in Raids Targeting Drug-Smuggling Gangs

https://indianexpress.com/article/c...umbers-woman-smugglers-arrested-9946901/

In Yudh Nasheyan Virudh numbers, a big story: 407 woman smugglers arrested
The recent arrest of woman police constable Amandeep Kaur in Bathinda for alleged drug smuggling has brought into sharp focus the role of women in Punjab in the drug trade, prompting the Punjab Police to swing into action with women smugglers.

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/20...eized-near-beach-between-safi-essaouira/

Over 17 Tons of Cannabis Resin Seized Near Beach Between Safi, Essaouira

https://www.businessinsider.com/coast-guard-seizes-drug-bust-florida-photos-2025-4

The US Coast Guard seized $510 million worth of drugs from smugglers, including a narco-sub. See photos of the busts.

https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/ma...cal-news-near-me-crime-law-public-safety

Massive Meth Bust: Over $1 million in meth at Mexican border

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2...aine-saisis-a-laeroport-montreal-trudeau

More than 17 kg of cocaine seized at Montreal-Trudeau Airport

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/21/americas/ecuador-cocaine-coast-smuggling-latam/index.html

On Ecuador’s cocaine coast, with a fisherman who turned to smuggling

https://newscentral.africa/ndlea-busts-international-drug-smuggling-plot-using-religious-texts/

NDLEA Busts International Drug Smuggling Plot Using Religious Texts

https://www.muscatdaily.com/2025/04...ntry-attempts-in-coordinated-operations/

ROP thwarts drug smuggling and illegal entry attempts in coordinated operations