Organized crime networks linked to Dutch 'Mocro mafia' expand into Germany

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German police have raised alarms over the expansion of Dutch organized crime networks, specifically the so-called "Mocro mafia," into Germany. This follows a series of recent explosions in Cologne, believed to be linked to organized crime groups. On September 18, 2024, an incendiary device detonated in a fashion store on a busy street in the city, signaling escalating tensions between rival crime organizations.

Authorities are concerned about potential mafia wars between Dutch and German groups. The Mocro mafia, originally emerging from the Dutch Moroccan community in the 1990s, has evolved into a violent transnational network involved in drug trafficking, including the import of cannabis and cocaine into Europe. Criminologists warn that this network is more prone to violence compared to German organized crime groups, with cases of murder, torture, and brutal retaliatory attacks in the Netherlands.

North Rhine-Westphalia, the German state where Cologne is located, has seen a series of bombings in recent weeks. Experts believe these attacks are connected to organized crime, as groups seek to steal cash from ATMs and settle disputes.

Despite significant police efforts, crime groups from both countries maintain tight cooperation. Authorities have called for greater cross-border collaboration between Germany and the Netherlands to counter the spread of organized crime.