Criminal drug organizations are increasingly expanding their influence in Europe, putting pressure on institutions, threatening public officials and increasing the level of violence in several countries on the continent. One of the most recent cases was recorded in France, where the mayor of the city of Alès, Christophe Rivenq, was urgently evacuated from his apartment and placed under police protection after authorities received information about a possible attack on him by the Mafia DZ, one of the most powerful drug networks in the country.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the decision to protect the mayor was taken after security information showed that the danger to him was imminent. Rivenq had previously received threats, after 9 mm bullets were found in his mailbox, while threatening messages were written on the walls of his apartment. “The actions we are taking against drug trafficking are yielding results. I will not be afraid,” declared the 60-year-old mayor. The DZ Mafia, originally from Marseille, has transformed from a local gang into one of the biggest criminal threats in France, thanks to its control over the drug market.
French influencer Carla Moreau, 29, has also faced threats from this criminal world. She received a death threat at her home in Marseille after her car was set on fire overnight. Prosecutors have launched an investigation into a suspected extortion case. The drug market in France has grown significantly in recent years. According to the French Observatory for Drugs and Addiction, the value of this market has increased from around 2.3 billion euros in 2010 to 6.8 billion euros in 2023. Former French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has described drug trafficking as a “cancer” for French society, warning that drugs have now penetrated even the country’s smallest cities.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing in Belgium that the country is becoming one of the main centers of cannabis trafficking in Europe. The port of Antwerp has become a strategic point for criminal networks, through which large drug shipments pass and are then distributed to other European countries. According to investigations published by international media, cannabis produced legally in Canada is ending up in the hands of smugglers and is entering Europe through Belgium. In 2025, Belgian authorities seized about 32 tons of cannabis in the port of Antwerp, an increase of about 500 percent compared to the previous year. In the first six months of 2026 alone, another 10.8 tons were seized. Authorities suspect that international criminal networks are behind some of these operations, while investigations have uncovered cases of corruption within port structures. Corrupt employees are suspected of being paid tens of thousands of euros to help evade customs controls.
In addition to cannabis, the port of Antwerp is also an entry point for cocaine from Latin America. Clashes between rival gangs have led to a wave of violence, with threats against officials, gun attacks and attempts to obstruct investigations. Belgian judges and prosecutors have warned that criminal groups are creating a “parallel force” that is challenging not only the police but also the justice system. Several public employees have been placed under protection after receiving threats and facing bribery attempts. Violence linked to drug trafficking has hit Belgium and surrounding countries hard. In Antwerp, an 11-year-old girl lost her life after being caught in a shootout between rival drug gangs. In the Netherlands, authorities also discovered facilities used by traffickers to torture rivals.
Meanwhile, in southern Europe, Spain has become one of the main gateways for cocaine on the continent. Its geographical position and links to Latin America have made it an important point for international traffickers.
Spanish authorities have discovered sophisticated tunnels used to transport cannabis from Morocco, while operations against drug trafficking have led to record seizures.
According to security experts, the expansion of criminal drug networks poses one of the biggest challenges for Europe, as mafia organizations are moving from traditional trafficking to influencing the economy, institutions and public life.
