Balkan Cartel Crackdown Success

In a sweeping police operation coordinated by Europol, three key members of the notorious ‘Balkan Cartel’ were arrested in Germany on December 10, 2025. This major bust also led to the seizure of criminal assets worth over EUR 5 million. The operation was a collaborative effort involving law enforcement agencies from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, and Serbia.

The crackdown focused on High Value Targets within the cartel, known for their significant role in large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapons smuggling across Europe. The operation was the result of meticulous planning and international cooperation, highlighting Europol’s central role in facilitating information exchange and strategic analysis. The action day saw 500 officers executing searches across 45 premises, uncovering not only cash and luxury items but also a loaded firearm.

The operation is part of a broader strategy to dismantle the Balkan Cartel, which has seen previous successes including numerous arrests throughout 2023. These efforts underscore the ongoing commitment of European law enforcement to combat organized crime and disrupt its networks across the continent.