The changing face of organised crime: Europol's EU-SOCTA 2025 Report

Europol has released its EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU-SOCTA) 2025, highlighting a fundamental shift in the nature of organised crime across Europe. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolving threats to EU security and outlines the challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

The EU-SOCTA is one of the most detailed intelligence reports on serious and organised crime, drawing on data from EU Member States and international law enforcement agencies. It not only evaluates the current state of organised crime but also anticipates future threats, offering a strategic guide for policymakers and law enforcement agencies.

The Transformation of Organised Crime

According to the report, the structure of organised crime has undergone significant change, becoming more deeply entrenched and disruptive. The shift is driven by global instability, digitalisation, and emerging technologies, leading to three key developments:

1. Increasing DestabilisationSerious organised crime now extends beyond public safety concerns to pose a direct threat to EU institutions and society. Criminal networks launder illicit proceeds, engage in corruption, and exploit young offenders, while also aligning with hybrid threat actors who use crime to further political or economic agendas.

2. Expansion into the Digital SphereNearly all forms of organised crime now have a digital component. Criminals exploit online infrastructure to conduct cyber fraud, ransomware attacks, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Digital platforms provide anonymity and global reach, making it more challenging for law enforcement to track and disrupt illicit activities.

3. Acceleration Through AI and TechnologyArtificial intelligence and emerging technologies are increasingly leveraged by criminals to automate and scale their operations. AI-driven social engineering, encrypted communication, and blockchain technology facilitate illicit transactions, making criminal networks more resilient and harder to dismantle.

Emerging Security Threats

The EU-SOCTA 2025 identifies seven key areas where organised crime is becoming more sophisticated and dangerous:

Cybercrime: Ransomware and cyber-attacks now target critical infrastructure, businesses, and government entities, often aligning with state-sponsored actors.

Online Fraud: AI-powered scams exploit stolen personal data, making fraud more effective and widespread.

Child Exploitation: Generative AI is being used to create and distribute illegal material, while online grooming tactics evolve.

Migrant Smuggling: Criminal networks exploit geopolitical crises, charging high fees with little regard for human welfare.

Drug Trafficking: Shifting supply routes and increased violence accompany a diversifying drug market.

Firearms Trafficking: Advanced technology and online marketplaces have increased access to illegal weapons.

Waste Crime: Criminals manipulate legitimate businesses in the waste sector, causing severe environmental damage.

Combatting Organised Crime

The EU-SOCTA report stresses that criminal networks adapt quickly, exploiting financial and technological loopholes to sustain their operations. Money laundering methods are becoming more sophisticated, with illicit funds moving through decentralised financial systems, including cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks.

Corruption remains a significant enabler of organised crime, with digital-era tactics allowing criminals to infiltrate key institutions. Meanwhile, organised crime-related violence is rising across several EU countries, often linked to competition within criminal markets.

The exploitation of young individuals as low-level operatives shields criminal leaders from prosecution, making law enforcement efforts more challenging. The report calls for a comprehensive strategy that targets both the criminal markets and the underlying mechanisms sustaining them.

Official Responses

Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle emphasised the urgency of dismantling the systems that enable organised crime:

"Criminal networks have evolved into global enterprises, using technology, illicit financial flows, and geopolitical instability to expand their influence. Breaking this new criminal code means disrupting their finances, supply chains, and technological advantages."

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner reinforced the need for coordinated action:

"The security landscape is shifting rapidly, and our response must evolve accordingly. The SOCTA report underlines the growing threat of organised crime, and we must take decisive steps to protect the European Union."

Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak, whose country faces unique security challenges, echoed this sentiment:

"As an EU nation bordering an active war, Poland remains vigilant against emerging threats. Our priorities include countering drug and human trafficking, hybrid threats, and illegal arms smuggling. Through EMPACT and Europol, we are committed to strengthening international cooperation."

Future Strategies

The findings of the EU-SOCTA 2025 will shape the EU’s security agenda for the coming years. The Council of the European Union will use the report to set enforcement priorities, guiding the operational framework of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).

The report underscores the urgent need for law enforcement agencies to strengthen their intelligence capabilities, expand international collaboration, and develop new strategies to counter evolving criminal threats. As organised crime continues to adapt, so must the response, ensuring that Europe remains one step ahead in the fight against crime.

Source: EURPOL