The European Countries Most Affected by Organized Crime
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 31
Key Data Published By Civil Protection and Homeland Security Firm Intersec Showcases Which European Countries Are Most Afflicted by Criminal Networks
Article Written by Bethany Spencer
Intersec, a civil protection and security firm aiming to provide AI-powered intelligence to governments and telecommunications firms, recently published an insightful report showcasing which European countries are most affected by organized crime.
The report was produced by compiling crime indices, drug and human trafficking data, and total weapons seizures. The research uses the 2025 Global Organized Crime Index criminality score as its foundation, with Intersec offering subject-matter expertise on what the findings mean for public safety, emergency response, and national resilience.
Among other key findings, the July 2026 report found:
Ukraine is the European country most affected by criminal networks.
At 25.4 victims per 100,000 people, the UK has the most issues with human trafficking in the top ten.
Organized crime affects EU and non-EU nations alike, with Italy and Spain also claiming the top spots.
Methodology
To measure organized crime pressure, the study looked at the spread of criminal markets and mafia-style networks, drug trafficking offenses, drug and arms seizures, human trafficking victims, and intentional homicide rates. To ensure fair comparisons, raw counts were normalized by population and expressed per 100K people. The final ranking is based on their exposure to organized crime pressure, using the 2025 Global Organized Crime Index criminality score, as all additional factors highlight it with relevant data.
Top 5 European Countries Most Exposed to Organized Crime Pressure
Ukraine: Ukraine faces more organized crime than any other European nation. Criminal networks have a firm foothold here: authorities seize 30.6 kg of drugs for every 100K residents, while the homicides reach the highest figure in the top 5, at a rate of 3.78 cases. The state's ability to push back is weaker than in European countries, and it has a smaller police force presence than in Italy or Serbia, which rank next, meaning it struggles to mount an effective defense.
Italy: Italy follows closely in 2nd place, standing out with widespread drug issues and human trafficking. Over 175 kg of drugs are seized here per 100K residents, almost 50 times more than in Ukraine. There are also 3.45 trafficking victims for the same ratio, meaning there are 16 times more recorded crimes of this kind than in Ukraine.
Serbia: Serbia is also among the European countries that are exposed to organized crime, as authorities seize almost 5 times more weapons than in Italy (a rate of 21.6 vs 4.59). Intentional murders are an issue here, too, and police forces record 1.31 planned homicides per 100K residents. While Serbia shows less human trafficking than Italy, it is still a problem, with a rate of 0.97 victims.
Spain: Spain ranks fourth for organized crime pressure, with the most drugs seized per person in the top 10. Authorities confiscate 1.5 kg of drugs per 100K residents, almost 15 times more than in Serbia. Arms seizures are also common, and Spanish police take the second-most weapons from criminals in the top 5, with 7.8K in raw numbers.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: In fifth spot is Bosnia and Herzegovina, where trafficking offenses related to drugs hit 70.8 per 100K, the third-highest rate in the top 10. The amount of drugs spread through the country is also alarming, and seizures of controlled substances amount to 41.3 kg. Human trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina is also high: 5 times more common than in Ukraine, with 1.16 victims per 100K residents.
Charlotte Cardona, Head of Public Affairs at Intersec, comments: "Organized crime crosses borders more easily than law enforcement does. Criminal networks operate across jurisdictions, while police and intelligence services are often confined by national boundaries. The countries at the top of this list are not just places where crime happens. They are places where criminal networks have established footholds and where the capacity to resist them is limited. The gap between criminal pressure and resilience is where organized crime thrives. Closing that gap requires better intelligence, faster information sharing, and tools that can track movement across multiple jurisdictions."
Overall, Intersec hopes this report will help inform local governments, NGOs, and telecommunication firms in identifying the gaps between law enforcement and criminal activity.
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Bethany Spencer is a researcher and data journalist with Intersec.
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