Author(s): Dacian ENACHE
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Publication type: Journal article
Publication date: June 30, 2026
Pagination:
Issue/ Volume: 1 (35)/2026
DOI:
Abstract:
The phenomenon of organized crime constitutes an increasing threat to
regional security in Europe, where criminal networks demonstrate a persistent capacity
to overcome the efforts of authorities to counter its proliferation. The most profitable
form of organised crime is cocaine trafficking from South America to European markets.
The dynamism and fluidity of the criminal entities that orchestrate cocaine trafficking
reflect their flexibility even in terms of how they are structured. Considering the need to
understand the complexity and multidimensionality of cocaine trafficking, a neural
network model will be proposed that encompasses the main characteristics of the
criminal networks involved in this form of crime. The purpose of this research is to
identify a new conceptual model for the structure of organised crime groups. This
research aims to generate knowledge about operational reality of criminal groups by
drawing an analogy between their structure and a neural network. The data analysed
in this article were derived from reports issued by European and international
authorities with institutional mandates in the field of monitoring, preventing and
combating international cocaine trafficking, covering the period from 2021-2026,
including news publications and academic literature in the field of sociology and
neuroscience. The research finds that the neural network conceptual model integrates
the main characteristics associated with organised crime networks into a unified
framework: fluidity, decentralisation, (re)configurability and organisational flexibility.
Keywords: organised crime groups, neural network, cocaine trafficking,
decentralised structure.
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