Montenegro's Minister of Justice, Bojan Božović, announced a new proposed law that would allow for the seizure of assets from organized criminal groups even before a final verdict.

Icelandic police receive almost daily reports of pickpocketing during the summer, with foreign criminal groups believed to be responsible, specifically traveling to the country to commit these crimes.

Bolivia is planning to intensify its fight against Brazilian criminal organizations, with President Rodrigo Paz aiming to increase the presence of specialized police forces along the border. This follows the detention of 17 leaders of international criminal groups since the current president's election.

Former President Trump has signed a memo to enlist private sector cyber firms in a new offensive against foreign criminal groups. This initiative aims to leverage private expertise in combating international cybercrime.

Yair Golan announced a NIS 1 billion plan to fight organized crime in Arab society, focusing on economic pressure, special courts, and cutting off funding to criminal groups.

Five of the accused in the case involving two organized criminal groups linked to fentanyl production and distribution will remain in custody, while two others have been placed under house arrest, according to the Ruse District Prosecutor's Office.

Following a series of armed clashes involving criminal groups that have disturbed citizens, the Mayor of East Sarajevo, Ljubiša Ćosić, is calling for stricter laws and longer prison sentences for criminals.

A new and alarming form of organized crime is spreading across Europe, where criminal groups like the 'Foxtrot' network are using social media and encrypted apps to recruit teenagers for paid attacks and assassinations. Investigators warn that this 'click-for-hire' model, where teens execute attacks like in video games, is rapidly expanding.

The discovery of a Serbian flag on packages of cocaine seized in Ecuador is considered a clue, not proof, but prompts investigation into the documented activities of Balkan criminal groups in the region.

Two criminal groups, possessing improvised explosive devices and Molotov cocktails, were involved in clashes during a February 28th rally in central Athens concerning the Tempi train disaster, leading to two arrests and the identification of five others.

Spanish police have dismantled two international criminal groups involved in operating illegal tobacco factories within the country.

Arrests in Cuautla, Mexico, have revealed how criminal groups infiltrated local government, embedded themselves in the economy, and fueled a cycle of extortion, violence, and corruption across eastern Morelos.

An extensive anti-drug operation in Tirana has dismantled three criminal groups operating near high schools, resulting in 14 arrests and 5 individuals sought by authorities.

Minister Toshkovski announced that North Macedonia has achieved its lowest crime rate in the last 20 years, alongside significant results in combating corruption, with a 50% increase in suppressed organized criminal groups.

Montenegrin Defense Minister Dragan Krapović vehemently rejected accusations from MP Nikola Zirojević regarding alleged ties to organized criminal groups and the disclosure of sensitive information.

Belgrade has seen twenty incidents, including shootings, arsons, and explosions, in the first half of the year, attributed to criminal groups.

G7 leaders have issued a joint declaration, committing to concrete actions to disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute organized criminal groups involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking, with Nigeria expected to benefit from these efforts.

Montenegro plans to introduce new laws to combat organized crime, with assistance from Italy. Bojan Božović highlighted that criminal groups are increasingly misusing new technologies like deepfake content and AI for fraud and concealment.

An EU agency has issued a warning that criminal groups are leveraging technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, to produce new drugs and evade law enforcement.

Croatian anti-corruption agency USKOK announced two investigations against criminal groups suspected of customs evasion and illegal trade, reportedly centered around a mysterious Serbian individual named Rade.

Following the arrest of a high-ranking police official in Belgrade, deeply connected to criminal groups and implicated in a murder, it is suggested that even pensioners will not be enough to keep Vučić in power.

The General Director of the State Police, Skënder Hita, met with police structures in Saranda, focusing on security, law enforcement, and increasing the responsiveness of local police structures, with a directive for no tolerance towards criminal groups.

Matatu operators in Nairobi are reporting widespread extortion and violent attacks by criminal groups known as 'Kamagera' gangs, prompting calls for increased security and intervention.

Authorities in Zawiya, a major oil city in western Libya, have launched a large-scale operation against criminal groups.

Over the first three months of 2026, Ukrainian border guards uncovered 80 criminal groups involved in the illegal smuggling of people across the border. Approximately 3,000 offenders were detained in connection with these draft evasion routes.

Polish services have reportedly found that one of the most dangerous Russian criminal groups controls the Zondacrypto exchange, a situation that Prime Minister Donald Tusk had previously warned about.

A double murder occurred in the Stari Aerodrom area of Montenegro, with authorities stating the crime is not linked to clashes between criminal groups.

Cambodia's Interior Minister is urging the nation's youth to reject gang involvement, encouraging them to 'choose power, not prison' in a campaign against criminal groups.

Gazment Bardhi, an Albanian opposition MP, criticized Prime Minister Rama, alleging that public institutions are acting as criminal groups, hindering the country's EU integration, and squandering millions of euros.

A member of the municipal commission in Aranđelovac reported significant pressure, blackmail, and threats during the election campaign, suspecting involvement of criminal groups and non-local individuals.

The port of Dunkirk, France's third-largest, has become a significant target for drug traffickers, with thirteen tons of cocaine worth 865 million euros seized last month, as criminal groups seek new entry points after other major European ports increased security.

The website outlines details of the latest fraud methods and presents accounts of people who took on illegal jobs.

Montenegro is adopting amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs to protect the police from the influence of organized criminal groups and establish clear mechanisms for integrity, accountability, and professionalization, thereby ending practices where external structures held more sway than the state.

Journalist Artan Hoxha claims that criminal groups in Fier have transformed into businessmen with strong political ties, suggesting that Belinda Balluku made agreements to secure 12 mandates for the Socialist Party in the region.

Ecuador is preparing a major offensive against criminal groups, with logistical support from the United States, to combat rising crime and instability.

Venezuela is considering opening its gold and gas-rich subsoil to the United States, with parliament debating new rules and incentives for foreign investment in an area currently controlled by criminal groups and facing environmental disaster.

Honduras' state of emergency, similar to El Salvador's, has failed to curb gang control in large areas of the country, with criminal groups maintaining power despite restricted rights and army deployment.

Other criminal groups in Mexico may try to take advantage of the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, who ran the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Japanese Justice Minister Hiraguchi instructed prosecutors nationwide to combat 'Tokuryu' (anonymous and fluid criminal groups), emphasizing the need for swift and appropriate law enforcement to restore public safety.

Authorities in Chiapas, Mexico, have arrested eight individuals with alleged ties to criminal groups, including a figure known as 'Cadenudo' and members of 'Los Cuatetes'.

Following a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake a week ago, concerns are rising in Colombia about criminal groups preying on children, particularly in the hard-hit city of Pereira.

The Nigerian Army has intensified operations against terrorist networks in Katsina and Zamfara states, aiming to disrupt criminal groups in the region.

A Belgian anti-drug commissioner warns that organized criminal groups are increasingly using short-term rentals on platforms like Airbnb as flexible hideouts for storing drugs, weapons, and money.

Montenegrin police conducted raids in several northern towns including Bijelo Polje, Berane, Andrijevica, Kolašin, and Rožaje. The operation targeted individuals of operational interest and those close to organized criminal groups, resulting in the discovery of weapons and ammunition.

The security situation in East Sarajevo has deteriorated due to ongoing clashes between rival criminal groups, Elez and Ždrale. Police blame the judiciary for the inability to prevent these confrontations, warning that further incidents are likely.

Montenegrin police director Lazar Šćepanović announced the arrest of two individuals in Herceg Novi, N.T. and S.S., who were found with a significant arsenal of weapons, likely preventing serious crimes by organized criminal groups.

Jack Dorsey claims that the Indian government ordered the removal of the chat app Bitchat, citing its potential misuse by anti-national elements and criminal groups during network restrictions.

Greek police have successfully dismantled three interconnected criminal groups that defrauded elderly residents in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Agrinio of over €410,000 by impersonating employees of the electricity distribution operator, DEDDIE.

The Spanish Civil Guard announced a successful operation on July 9, dismantling two international criminal groups operating in Spain. Fifty suspects were arrested, including a Lithuanian citizen, with the success attributed to an investigation conducted in Lithuania.

Frontex has reported that criminal groups from the Western Balkans have established a direct operational presence in drug-producing countries, significantly expanding their reach.

Police conducted extensive raids across the Montenegrin coast, from Ulcinj to Boka Kotorska, targeting properties linked to organized criminal groups, leading to the arrest of a member of the "Škaljari" clan.

A Serbian politician claims the murders of Aleksandar Nešović and Darko Vesković cannot be covered up, alleging that the government's past cooperation with criminal groups is now a problem.

Violent conflicts between criminal groups in Central and North Jutland have subsided during the first half of the year.

A Turkish arms trafficking ring, responsible for supplying weapons to criminal organizations across Europe, has been dismantled, leading to ten arrests in France. Europol raised the alarm about the network, which funneled weapons from Turkey to various European countries.

Critical flood mitigation projects under Ghana's Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) programme are facing delays due to the activities of squatters and alleged criminal groups occupying project sites.

A Bosnian investigative journalist warns that the release of Dina Muzaferovića, known as 'Cezar', would endanger witnesses and signify a victory for criminal organizations. Cezar's influence is said to extend far beyond the Balkans.

Beyond pedophiles, extremists are also preying on children, with criminal groups systematically exploiting minors, blackmailing them, and encouraging self-harm and suicide.

Authorities in Thrace have discovered 'ghost weapons' linked to Turkish criminal groups, leading to two arrests. Separately, police rejected a ₦500m bribe and seized suspected Canadian Loud worth ₦7.8bn.

Fatmir Mediu, head of Albania's Republican Party, spoke at the OSCE, warning that criminal groups are corrupting officials and operating like corporations, posing a significant risk to Albania and Europe through infiltration.

Two criminal organizations involved in the illegal trafficking of plant protection products and fertilizers have been dismantled by the Northern Greece Organized Crime Suppression Sub-Directorate. The groups were engaged in the illicit distribution of these agricultural products.

A report details the Balkan cartel as a network of criminal groups operating with a structure similar to multinational corporations. This analysis highlights the sophisticated organization and reach of the cartel.

Europol has issued a warning that criminal groups are increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence, leading to more sophisticated cybercrime.

A robust Brazilian gang, compared to the Italian mafia in its effectiveness, is on its way to becoming one of the world's largest criminal groups. It now controls a significant portion of cocaine transport from South America to Europe and is expanding into Croatia's neighboring regions.

Seven individuals have been arrested and charged with participation in organized criminal groups, armed robberies, and illegal gambling, following an operation by Polish services.

A night of gang violence across Sydney saw houses shot at and police pursuing a 'kill car', indicating escalating tensions among criminal groups.

The demand from criminal groups for new modern weapons and the stock in circulation from the riots of 1997 keep Albania on the map of illegal arms trafficking, while investigations into these cases...

The Japanese government has approved a bill to amend the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds, strengthening penalties for the buying and selling of bank accounts used by criminal groups for money laundering.

European states are actively tracking the assets of criminal groups in Albania, with a recent example being the discovery of an industrial-scale cannabis farm in the UK linked to such activities.

Former Democratic Party (PD) MP Ervin Salianji harshly criticized Flamur Noka, accusing him of corruption and ties to criminal groups, and labeling him as the 'face of PD's failure' and the party's 'biggest political accident'.

The theft of a cocaine shipment smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden has exposed the involvement of Albanian criminal groups in the international drug trade logistics and highlighted challenges in holding them accountable.

The value of gold reached record highs at the start of 2026. Ty Snaden for Business Insider Gold's surge to $5,000 per ounce draws criminal groups in Colombia, reshaping illicit industries. Illegal gold mining in Colombia now surpasses cocaine in profit for organized crime networks. US demand for Colombian gold complicates efforts to combat illegal mining and money laundering. As gold surpasses $5,000 per ounce, its record-setting rally is reshaping more than investment portfolios. The spik...

Ecuador readies a major offensive on criminal groups with US logistical support

Employees of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) have arrested ten individuals from two criminal groups, accused of coercing women into prostitution through violence and threats and demanding 'fees'.

Mexico News Daily is running a subscriber-exclusive series, 'MND Tutor | Carteles', offering a look into Mexico's organized criminal groups while also providing Spanish language learning opportunities.

An report reveals that LGBTIQ+ migrants in Mexico conceal their sexual orientation to avoid sexual violence and face threats from criminal groups.

Albanian police arrested a 34-year-old man in Maminas as part of an operation targeting arms trafficking from Kosovo to Albania. The suspect was allegedly supplying criminal groups with firearms, and three pistols were seized during the operation.

The Theatre Command, Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, has launched 'Operation Clean Sweep IV,' a coordinated offensive aimed at intensifying pressure on terrorists and armed criminal groups across Nigeria's North-West region.

Belgium's national drug commissioner claims that the rapid development of e-commerce significantly facilitates the operations of organized crime, with criminal groups increasingly using rented apartments for their activities.

A 49-year-old man, identified as a member of the 'Pitbull' or 'Bulldog' criminal groups associated with the arrested 'Entik', has been apprehended in Paleo Faliro, Greece.

Colombian drug cartels are reportedly studying and adopting drone operation tactics observed in the Russia-Ukraine war, leveraging the conflict's lessons to advance their own criminal activities.

Two shootings in two days have alarmed citizens of East Sarajevo, with initial information suggesting they are a continuation of clashes between organized criminal groups linked to Darko Elez and Đorđe Ždralo.

A lawsuit accuses Discord and Meta of failing to prevent criminal groups from grooming and abusing a teen girl on their platforms, potentially challenging Section 230 liability protections.

The legalization of cannabis in Canada has inadvertently led to a surge in mass smuggling into Europe, with criminal groups profiting immensely and Belgium grappling with record seizures and concerns about becoming a 'narco-state'.

As organized criminal groups in Sweden increasingly recruit children at younger ages, Stockholm is investing in prevention efforts to protect youth from gang involvement.

Nigerian soldiers and NDLEA operatives arrested three suspected terrorist drug suppliers in Katsina, disrupting the flow of illicit substances to criminal groups.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has conducted simultaneous inspections of over a dozen gold-handling businesses in the city, in response to a series of robberies targeting gold transactions by anonymous, fluid criminal groups.

A Romanian police officer disclosed how organized criminal groups recruit truck drivers for smuggling, highlighting the significant risks involved for drivers who are paid symbolically.

A discussion highlights the inability to cover up the murders of Aleksandar Nešović and Darko Vesković in Belgrade, pointing to the authorities' past cooperation with various criminal groups.

A series of murders, shootings, and bombings in Serbia suggests an escalating "clan war," with investigative journalists questioning which organized criminal groups are vying for government favor.

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has reaffirmed his administration’s firm opposition to negotiating with bandits, insisting that seeking peace deals with criminal groups remains unacceptable, reinforcing the stance that the government is stronger than any terrorist.

The Public Ministry is alerting the public to a significant phishing attack where criminal groups are impersonating bank agents. Victims could potentially lose large sums of money.

Albanian police have arrested several individuals in Tirana for allegedly trafficking firearms and explosives, including pistols and Kalashnikovs. The operation, named "Rrjeti," involved simulated purchases to uncover the criminal groups' activities and pricing.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police conducted a raid on a gold trading company in the city, following a series of robberies targeting gold transaction sites by anonymous, fluid criminal groups. The raid aims to understand transaction realities and provide crime prevention guidance.

Recent law enforcement operations against smugglers in the Šalčininkai district have brought renewed attention to the scale of smuggling and its links to corruption in Lithuania, raising questions beyond just criminal groups.

A 22-year-old man has been remanded in custody in connection with fires believed to be related to a dispute between criminal groups in Central Jutland, Denmark.

Italian investigative journalist Nello Trocchia highlighted the extensive money laundering by Albanian criminal groups, ranking the Albanian mafia among Europe's top.

The article delves into the story of Sylwester Suszek, known as the 'king of bitcoins,' suggesting he may have disappeared to protect his loved ones amidst a conflict between criminal groups vying for control of his exchange and assets.

Drug trafficking is increasingly impacting ecosystems in Costa Rica's southern Pacific region, with criminal groups reportedly moving into protected areas around Puerto Jiménez.

Yakuza membership in Japan has dropped to a record low in 2025, attributed to an aging population within criminal groups, stricter law enforcement, and the implementation of nationwide anti-gang ordinances.

Criminal groups worldwide are targeting Pokémon cards, with rare ones trading for millions, leading to a wave of robberies across the UK and USA.

An arms base suspected of supplying criminal groups has been discovered in Tirana, Albania, leading to the arrest of a 66-year-old woman and a search for her son.

The Nigerian army announced that at least 65 members of criminal groups were killed during a recent operation.

Details from a DIICOT investigation reveal how Romanian criminal groups acquire firearms through an arms trafficking route from Turkey to Romania, exploiting Turkey's issue with illegally held weapons.

The United States has offered a reward of up to US$3 million and possible relocation for information regarding the financial activities of Haiti’s Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif criminal groups, which Washington has designated as criminal organizations.

Former Albanian Democratic Party deputy Ervin Salianji has strongly reacted to accusations from PD Secretary General Flamur Noka linking his meetings to organized crime, calling them 'idiocy' and part of an 'authoritarian mentality.' Salianji continues to criticize the party's leadership, including Sali Berisha, for internal 'tricks' and unkept promises, advocating for the party's democratization and emphasizing his past imprisonment for denouncing powerful criminal groups.

The Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, emphasized the duty of the Hellenic Police to dismantle criminal groups operating under the guise of sports fan organizations, following a fatal attack in Thessaloniki.

A 16-year-old Swede was convicted in Copenhagen for conspiring to commit murder and sentenced to 16 years. A jury found the teenager participated in planning various atrocities to create animosity between two Danish criminal groups.

This is just as he warned that individuals who aid criminal groups with information or logistics would be treated as accomplices and dealt with accordingly. The post Defence Minister warns against amplifying terrorists’ propaganda appeared first on Vanguard News.

An operation involving 1.5 tons of cocaine from Costa Rica to Sweden and a botched robbery expose the role of Albanian criminal groups in international drug logistics and the challenges in holding them accountable.

The dismantling of the Ming and Bai criminal groups is a “powerful blow to the arrogance of criminals", says China’s Supreme People’s Court.

US Coast Guard Seizes $133.5 Million In Illicit Drugs Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Crew of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Seneca seized more than $133.5 million worth of cocaine and offloaded the drugs at Port Everglades, Florida, the agency said in a Feb. 13 statement. The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk (WMEC 913) and a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter flight crew conduct training evolutions in the Caribbean Sea, on July 15, 2025. Seaman Corrie Gill/U.S. Coast Guard “80 percent of interdictions of U.S.-bound drugs occur at sea. This underscores the importance of maritime interdiction in combatting the flow of illegal narcotics and protecting American communities from this deadly threat,” USCG said. In total, 17,700 pounds of cocaine were seized through the interdiction of four drug-transporting vessels in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. One of the drug vessels was boarded by Seneca’s crew on Jan. 25, seizing 4,410 pounds of cocaine. On Jan. 31, crew members boarded three vessels, taking custody of 13,340 pounds of cocaine, the statement said. The detection and monitoring of illegal drug transit by air and sea are conducted by the U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force-South, based in Key West. Once it is determined that the vessel must be interdicted, the USCG takes control of the operation, boards the vessel, and apprehends it. “I am extremely proud of the crew’s incredible performance and adaptability during this deployment,” said Capt. Lee Jones, commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Seneca. “This deployment demonstrates our enhanced posture and continued success in the fight against narco-terrorism and transnational criminal organizations. “The Coast Guard, in conjunction with our inter-agency and international partners, continues to patrol areas commonly associated with drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, denying smugglers access to maritime routes by which they move illicit drugs to our U.S. land and sea borders.” According to the agency, the Coast Guard is accelerating its crackdown on drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in support of Operation Pacific Viper, aiming to protect the United States from the flow of illicit narcotics from South America. Operation Pacific Viper, launched in early August last year, directs U.S. forces to the Eastern Pacific region to counter cartel and criminal groups, seeking to cut off drug and human smuggling before they hit U.S. shores. In early December 2025, USCG said in a statement that it had seized more than 150,000 pounds of cocaine from the Eastern Pacific Ocean, which it said was enough to create more than “57 million potentially lethal doses.” In a Feb. 14 statement, USCG announced the seizure of two vessels containing $5.6 million in illicit narcotics off Port Everglades. Authorities seized roughly 745 pounds of cocaine by interdicting two suspected drug trafficking vessels. “The Coast Guard is in the business of saving lives, and every kilogram of these drugs kept off our streets represents lives saved,” said Lt. Justin Dadlani, commanding officer of Station Fort Lauderdale. “I couldn’t be more proud of the professionalism of the crew and our continued partnerships with our partners with Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations.” On Feb. 15, the agency announced that its Cutter Forrest Rednour had interdicted 14 suspected illegal immigrants aboard a vessel 18 miles from San Diego, with all of them claiming to be Mexican nationals. Earlier on Jan. 27, the Coast Guard said they had interdicted three suspected illegal immigrants from Mexico in two vessels, seven miles off Imperial Beach, California. On Jan. 21, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said the Coast Guard notified the agency of a suspicious vessel traveling toward Puerto Rico. Upon investigation, CBP agents found 12 migrants from Russia and Uzbekistan aboard. The interception took place on Jan. 13. “This successful outcome highlights the strong partnerships between the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and all federal and local law enforcement partners in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Capt. Robert E. Stiles, Sector San Juan deputy. “Our daily unified coordination, shared capabilities, and synchronized response efforts are instrumental to safeguarding our nation’s Caribbean maritime borders against illicit smuggling activities.” Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 11:25