Why couldn't a drug cartel work in Europe like in Mexico or brazil?

[alkasike96]

Drug cartels in Mexico terrorize and threaten and kill huge numbers of people a day for a variety of reasons and even intimidate the countries armed forces, why doesn't this happen in European countries on a scale like that of Mexico or brazil?

[msc545]

While it is not accurate to claim that drug cartels do not exist or operate in Europe, there are significant differences between the drug trade dynamics in Europe and countries like Mexico or Brazil. These differences make it more challenging for drug cartels to establish the same level of dominance in Europe as they have in certain Latin American countries. Some reasons for this include:

Geography: Mexico and Brazil are geographically closer to major drug-producing countries like Colombia and Peru. This proximity allows cartels in Latin America to have direct access to drug production areas, making it easier for them to control the entire supply chain. Europe, on the other hand, is farther away from major drug-producing regions, like the Andean countries, making transportation and distribution more complex and costly.

Law Enforcement and Security: European countries generally have stronger and more effective law enforcement agencies compared to some parts of Latin America. The rule of law, cooperation between countries, and the presence of specialized law enforcement units make it harder for drug cartels to operate openly and exert the same level of control over territories.

Cultural and Historical Factors: The history and culture of Mexico and Brazil have contributed to the emergence and growth of powerful drug cartels in those regions. Issues like corruption, poverty, and the influence of organized crime have allowed cartels to flourish. Europe has different societal and historical factors that shape its criminal landscape, making it less conducive for drug cartels to operate on the same scale.

Drug Consumption Patterns: Drug consumption patterns differ between regions. While cocaine and other illegal drugs are still a significant issue in Europe, the primary markets for these drugs are in North America, which can lead to different trafficking routes and dynamics.

Fragmentation and Diversity: Europe is made up of many diverse countries, each with its own legal system, language, and cultural differences. This fragmentation makes it difficult for a single drug cartel to establish the kind of unified control that some Mexican or Brazilian cartels have within their respective countries.

Border Control: Europe has stricter border controls, making it more challenging for large-scale drug smuggling operations to go undetected.

Government Cooperation: European governments tend to have higher levels of cooperation and information sharing among countries to combat transnational crime, which can hinder cartel activities.

[Soteris]

Cartels like those are filling a power vacuum, like how the Mafia extorted protection money from businesses because the police could not protect them thus filling the need for local security. Europe generally dont leave much room for organized crime to grow into and without the gap there is just so much you can do to exert your own influence.

[jennifer_bloom]

I think Europe has the infrastructure and the income to hire spies and they have the legal oversight to monitor corrupt judges and officers who accept bribes so cartels have a harder time dominating the political world there. In Mexico, they can't afford to hire spies and judges can accept bribes without being punished cause the judges who judge the judges also accept bribes. There is also more poverty so a higher number of people are willing to risk their lives to work in the drug trade and honest work does not guarantee wealth the way it would for intelligent people in safe countries like America.

[JesseP1nk]

Easy question. In order those cartels to operate, they need big network of people who are willing to work for them. In Europe where life is good and poverty ALMOST non existent, law enforcement intelligence is good and they are well trained and equipped, they can't build this kind of network without getting killed/arrested.

Mexico and countries in South America - those countries are poor and people are willing to do anything to survive :(

[NaultD]

Climate to grow products. The product becomes money. Money becomes weapons and power.

[alkasike96]

Drug based plants can easily grow in Europe they have good climate and good soil.

[NaultD]

You can look up belts of more profitable crops. Like Afghanistan into the Nepal has opioids but unlike Central America dosen't have two to easily ship things in and out without noticing.

Central Asia is locked down on ports and deserts. That's way rougher then jungle that can get burned away.

[AngryCarl2]

It's not worth the cartels operating in Europe because the demand is too low and transportation cost is too high.

[alkasike96]

Cartels are stupid, they have the money and manpower to actually take over and govern mexico and Latin America. They only care about running their organization like a buisness, if they thought bigger they'd do bigger things.

[dolemite58]

italian, albanian, and russian organized crime have ran Europe with an iron fist for a long time. they may not be as outright brazen as the cartels in the america’s but that doesn’t mean they’re not violent.

[KostasKouvalis]

Because Europe already has terrorists. Same concept, different religion

[OddBeMe]

…um the French Connection?

La Cosa Nostra?

Sicilian mafia?

Those are real criminals, even if the movies based on them are faked,