Europol report identifies more than 800 criminal networks in EU

Europol on 5 April published a report exposing the workings of 821 criminal gangs that are active across the EU. AFP/File

The Hague-based crime-fighting body Europol has mapped 821 of the EU's "most threatening networks" involving some 50,000 people engaged in drug trafficking, fraud, migrant smuggling, human trafficking and organised property crime.

For the first time in history, Europol has gathered the information into one data centre for the judicial authorities of all 27 EU member states to access.