Organised crime from the Balkan region has grown in prominence in recent years, with its influence and criminal activity spreading far beyond its geographical bounds.

The Balkans, located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, have a long history of organised crime. The disintegration of Yugoslavia and subsequent conflicts in the 1990s produced a power vacuum that allowed criminal networks to develop. Due to the region’s location, weak governance, corruption and socioeconomic issues, these criminal organisations expanded over time. Adopting sophisticated methods, spreading their operations intercontinental, and forming alliances with other criminal organisations across Europe.