Key facts
- Drug traffickers have taken over from leftwing rebels.
- The new criminal networks are supplying drugs to Europe and Asia.
The global illicit trade landscape has seen a significant shift, with organized criminal groups, specifically gangsters, now dominating drug trafficking operations that supply markets in Europe and Asia. These groups have effectively replaced leftwing rebels who previously held sway in these activities. The transition signifies a change in the nature and actors within international criminal networks.