This magazine launches at a time when organised crime is becoming more complex, more connected and more difficult to see, yet its impact is felt across communities, institutions and borders. Our aim is simple: to shine a spotlight on the problem, explore how it is changing, and share the experiences of those working every day to understand it and tackle it.

PHYGITAL is not just another publication about organised crime. It is a space for voices from across the Phygital-OC Alliance – including law enforcement professionals, civil society organisations, researchers, practitioners and project partners – to share their first-hand experiences and perspectives on the problem. Through this magazine, we want to bring those perspectives together, create space for reflection and exchange, and help build a clearer picture of what ethnic mafia-style organised crime looks like today.

Each issue will dive deeper into key aspects of the problem, the response and the solutions being developed. You will find a mix of articles, interviews, case studies, features and resources. Some contributions explore big-picture trends, such as how transnational networks are reshaping the criminal landscape or how digital technologies are being exploited. Others focus on lived experience, from frontline investigations to organisations supporting victims of trafficking. We also include practical insights, research highlights and project updates to help connect knowledge with action.

This first issue, Inside Europe’s Hidden Threat: Understanding Ethnic Mafia-Style Crime, reflects that diversity. From analysis of digital transformation and cross-border security, to interviews, features and personal accounts, it offers different ways of understanding a complex problem. It also showcases the work of Alliance members and partners who are developing innovative approaches, supporting affected communities, and contributing to change on the ground.