European narcos

Between 2019 and 2024, the largest criminal trial in Dutch history unfolded inside a heavily fortified courtroom in the suburbs of Amsterdam: the Marengo Trial. It exposed the inner workings of an ultra-violent, hyper-connected criminal organization, born from an alliance between street criminals, businessmen, cartel bosses and mafia figures. This unprecedented case laid bare a phenomenon rooted in the Netherlands that is now spreading across Europe.

Structured as an in-depth investigation, the film draws on rare archives and interviews with journalists, criminologists and customs officers. It offers a gripping dive into the criminal economy, at the crossroads of colonial legacy, unbridled capitalism and the erosion of the rule of law. From the first anti-narcotics unit in Rotterdam in the 1920s to today’s high-tech task forces decrypting traffickers’ secret messages, it sheds light on a relentless fight waged by law enforcement. Because this is no longer just a matter of security – it’s a societal crisis.