When extremism intersects with organized crime, a dangerous web of ideology, power, and profit emerges. Across many European regions, the boundaries between political radicals and professional criminals are increasingly blurred – with serious consequences for society and security. This article explains how these alliances take shape, why prisons, youth centers, and digital spaces become key hubs, and which strategies could effectively counter these developments. It is a call for greater networking, prevention, and political foresight.
Introduction
The second meeting of the EU Knowledge Hub’s Thematic Panel 1 (“Ideologies and Conspiracy Narratives”) took place on 12–13 June 2025 in Aalborg, Denmark. The focus was the growing overlap between organized crime (OC) and violent extremism – a phenomenon that not only challenges Europe’s security structures but also affects social cohesion and local resilience.
The so-called crime-terror nexus manifests in many forms: shared networks in drug or arms trafficking, common financial structures, and the ideological framing of criminal activities. This hybrid field is not ideologically one-sided; it ranges from right-wing extremism and Islamist extremism to ethno-nationalist or otherwise ideologically ambivalent groups. The meeting brought together experts from security agencies, civil society, research, and practice to better understand this complex web and to develop joint prevention strategies.
Crime-Terror Nexus
This strategic alliance between ideological and criminal milieus is no longer marginal. Instead, it now shows up across many ideological contexts. For instance, far-right brotherhoods team up with biker gangs. Likewise, Salafist networks copy mafia-style structures. Moreover, criminal links also surface inside left-wing or ethno-nationalist movements. What unites all these actors is a remarkable strategic flexibility. They move fast, operate transnationally, and adapt quickly. They act both online and on the street. Meanwhile, they lure young people through social media, music, and violence-glorifying visuals.
Prisons, however, are especially critical arenas. Inside, extremist and criminal actors meet and recruit each other. They swap know-how. Consequently, they forge alliances that outlive the prison term. Thus, these encounters are not isolated incidents. Rather, they reflect a deeper pattern.
The key question, therefore, is how ideological, economic, and territorial interests mix inside such hybrid constellations. It is now clear that the old line between extremist and criminal actors is fading. Extremist groups tap criminal infrastructure for money, mobilisation, and power. Conversely, criminal groups deploy ideological narratives to win loyalty, mimic legitimacy, and control social spaces.
Nevertheless, the crime-terror nexus is not always a stable alliance. Often it is opportunistic, situational, or simply pragmatic. This point becomes evident in case studies. For example, right-wing brotherhoods link up with outlaw motorcycle gangs. They share business models and violence even though their ideologies differ. A comparable mechanism also appears in Islamist circles. There, religious narratives merge deliberately with economic hardship and social marginalisation.
Key Findings
- Identifying and Analyzing Hybrid Structures
The groups studied can no longer be neatly categorized as either ideological or criminal. They are mixed forms with reciprocal dynamics – in identities and in organizational structures – which sets new requirements for analysis, surveillance, and intervention. - Blind Spots in Justice, Administration, and Prevention
The intertwining of OC and extremism is most evident in prisons, where the correctional system often acts as a catalyst for new alliances. Specialized personnel, context-sensitive intervention programs, and inter-institutional cooperation are largely lacking. Similar knowledge gaps exist in schools, youth work, and municipal administration. - Ideology as a Strategic Tool
Ideology functions not only as a mobilizing element but also as a resource for self-positioning, public image, and symbolic legitimation. In practice, it can be fluid and interchangeable – adapted to a group’s needs. This functional view of ideology calls for new approaches in prevention and strategic communication. - Transnational Networks and European Responsibility
Crime–Terror Nexus is not local. Case studies show how right-wing networks in Germany link with OMCGs in Scandinavia, or how Islamist groups finance themselves through diaspora communities across several EU member states. Cross-border cooperation is therefore essential – in security architecture and in prevention.
Risks, Blind Spots, and Strategic Gaps
A central concern is how to craft legal, political, and operational responses to hybrid actors. They cannot be contained by traditional extremism-prevention measures or by classic OC-fighting instruments alone. The lack of coherent legal frameworks complicates prosecution of groups whose activities may fall under both extremist suspicion and organized crime.
Equally challenging is dealing with young people who move in the gray zone between ideology and crime. Many are burdened by multiple disadvantages – social deprivation, personal experiences of violence, and unstable family or school ties – and are specifically targeted by hybrid groups promising belonging, protection, and recognition.
Institutional structures are often fragmented: police, social work, educational institutions, and local administrations operate side by side rather than together. This missing coordination prevents detection of overlapping networks and hampers coherent responses. Current, fine-grained situational pictures are lacking at the municipal level, particularly in neighborhoods under informal control by criminal-extremist groups, where fear and silence prevail and democratic participation erodes.
Sensational or romanticized media portrayals of “underground rebels” can further increase the appeal of extremist-criminal lifestyles. Gender-specific perspectives are also frequently neglected – despite women acting as protagonists or facing distinct vulnerabilities in these structures.
What Is to Be Done? Developing Integrated Strategies
In response to these dynamics, several strategies were discussed:
- Multi-sector Task Forces
Setting up specialized units at municipal, national, and European levels that link security agencies, justice, social services, education, and civil-society actors is seen as essential. - Prevention Work in Prisons
Prisons are not only sites of punishment but also environments for radicalization and networking. Exit programs, psychosocial counseling, and culturally sensitive education are needed here. - Digital Strategies
Hybrid groups increasingly use encrypted platforms, cryptocurrencies, and digital propaganda formats. Media-literacy education and digital awareness campaigns are crucial countermeasures. - Victim-Centered Approaches
People affected by violence and intimidation from hybrid groups need structural protection, access to legal remedies, and support in rebuilding their life prospects.
Conclusion: Understanding Radicalization, Taking Complexity Seriously
Discussions in Aalborg showed that the boundaries between extremism and organized crime are dissolving. Hybrid structures are emerging that operate in social spaces, build economic power, and employ ideological frameworks – creating new challenges for prevention, intervention, and law enforcement. A cross-sector, European-coordinated strategy is therefore indispensable.
Instead of continuing with disciplinarily separated tools, we need a shared analysis platform, legally grounded task forces, and social policies aimed at resilience and justice. The panel’s recommendations provide an initial guide – their implementation will determine the effectiveness of future European P/CVE strategies.
The conclusions paper from the EUKH thematic panel provides solid insights, identifies blind spots, and offers concrete recommendations. It is a contribution to a necessary strategic learning process – in Europe and beyond.
S. O'Keeffe, I. Pérez Pérez, F. Wichmann, V. Theofilopoulos (2025): The Nexus Between Organised Crime and Extremism: How Ideologies and Conspiracy Theories Fuel the Symbiotic Relationship Between Organised Crime and Extremism. Meeting of Thematic Panel 1: Ideologies & Conspiracy Narratives. Conclusions Paper (Download).