The Relevance of the Mocro Mafia
The Mocro Mafia is one of the most powerful criminal organisations in Europe, reaching far beyond the Netherlands, though it is often under-acknowledged. Billions of euros in narcotics sales (especially cocaine), extreme violence between members and towards high profile figures such as journalists and lawyers, and corruption of institutions are only some of the activities that make the Mocro Mafia so relevant.
“We definitely have the characteristics of a narco-state […] if you look at the infrastructure, the big money earned by organised crime, the parallel economy. Yes, we have a narco-state.” Jan Struijs, chairman of the Dutch Police Union, launched this warning in 2019. Other Dutch officials have followed, stating that organized crime is well-established inside national institutions. And in the Netherlands, when talking of organised crime, we are talking of the Mocro Mafia. In the past decade, Law Enforcement against the group has intensified. The Marengo Trial and the arrests of Ridouan Taghi and Othman El Ballouti could be crucial in dismantling the networks. Yet, doubt persists: Can the Mocro Mafia be broken by cutting off its head, or are they so solidly embedded that their empire will persist, irrespective of law enforcement action?
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2 Origins of the Mocro Mafia
The Mocro Mafia (a term coined by Dutch media) is a network of organized criminals. It mainly operates in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Predominantly connecting Dutch and Moroccan criminal organizations, the Mocro Mafia is a crucial entity of the European drug trade. Their origins and expansion to international prominence, from the 1990s to today, are fundamental to understanding the nature of this organization.
2.1 The 1990s – The Mocro Mafia Emergence
The Netherlands adopted a liberal stance on cannabis in the 1970s. This market flourished and grew for decades, granting a profitable opportunity for interested individuals. During this period, more specifically in the 1990s, Dutch nationals of Moroccan origin were able to use their familial connections to Morocco’s Rif region and other major cannabis-producing areas to build a solid trafficking network. Being that cannabis was in high demand in Europe, groups became increasingly organized to capitalize on the opportunity. At this stage, certain figures, such as Ridouan Taghi, began a career leading them to the top ranks of the region’s organized crime.
2.2 The 2000s – Expansion and Diversification
Throughout the end of the 90s and early 2000s, there was a turning moment for the criminal groups connecting Morocco and the Netherlands. These groups recognised the great profitability of cocaine over cannabis-related products. Through the establishment of direct connections with Latin American drug cartels, great quantities of cocaine were imported through the key ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. Both Colombian and Mexican cartels used groups like the Mocro Mafia to assist their drug routes into Europe. The term Mocro Mafia gained prominence during this period. With the strategic move to cocaine, they increased their revenue and presence, becoming a high-status group in Europe’s crime community and drug trade.
2.3 Recent years – International Prominence
Heading into the 2010s, the Mocro Mafia had a strong position. As a dominant force in the European drug market, they reportedly controlled up to a third of the cocaine distributed across the entire continent. As it often happens, the growth and dominance of a group lead to confrontations that often escalate into violence. Both within the group and outside it, the Mocro Mafia became known for its violent means.
A relevant incident, attracting great attention, took place in 2012. The theft of a large shipment of cocaine (200kg) in Antwerp’s port led to a brutal gang war. The conflict would last until 2017. Over 100 people are estimated to have died during this time across the Netherlands, Belgium, Morocco, and Spain. From this time onwards, extreme violence and high-profile homicides became a symbol of the Mocro Mafia’s actions. The assassination of crime journalist Peter de Vries in 2021, and lawyer Derk Wiersum in 2019, showcase the group’s resolve and its deliberate use of overtly violent means.
Learn More
https://greydynamics.com/mocro-mafia-the-cocaine-kingpins-of-europe/
