People

Uruguay primarily serves as a destination for sex and labour trafficking, with exploitation of local and foreign individuals. Border areas with Argentina and Brazil are hotspots for sex trafficking, including transactional sex involving women, children and, occasionally, boys and transgender adults. Traffickers predominantly target women from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and other South American nations for sex trafficking within Uruguay, with a significant proportion of victims being South American women of African descent. Labour trafficking affects foreign workers from South America and the Caribbean in sectors like construction, agriculture, elder care and textile industries. Uruguay also acts as a source country for human trafficking. Uruguayan victims are trafficked within the region, into countries such as Argentina and Brazil, as well as European countries, including Italy and Spain. Corruption within law enforcement and state agencies enables trafficking networks to operate with impunity.

Uruguay plays a limited role in the market for human smuggling, with small networks often formed by individuals from the same town or nationality as the migrants. These groups, occasionally involving mixed nationalities, may include organizers, transporters and those providing concealment. International networks operating in Uruguay are poorly documented but appear to use similar routes and methods as drug and weapons traffickers. The human smuggling market is in general aligned with the regional migration trends that are driven by economic and political pressures.

Extortion and related crimes in Uruguay remain isolated and limited to small, loosely organized networks, primarily in Montevideo, where some gangs are transitioning from robbery to extortion and small-scale drug trafficking. These groups lack substantial financial resources and access to heavy weaponry, restricting their expansion and ability to challenge the state.

Trade

Uruguay has emerged as a key transit hub for arms trafficking between Argentina and Brazil, driven by its strategic location, borders and inadequate border controls. Domestic demand for weapons has risen, particularly among drug trafficking gangs, contributing to heightened violence in border areas. Unregistered firearms are widespread, and some armouries and police officers have been linked to trafficking. Although the impact on homicide and suicide rates is evident, public security debates rarely address the issue. Trafficking proceeds are often laundered via cryptocurrencies, reflecting evolving criminal practices. Domestically, the demand for firearms has surged, particularly among gangs engaged in drug trafficking, leading to increased violence over control of border territories.

The counterfeit goods market is consolidated, with the trade occurring both domestically and in transit to Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. Counterfeit imports have surged tangibly over the past three years, driven by fake electronics, but counterfeit clothes and shoes still dominate the market. New counterfeit items include children’s toys, cosmetics and personal care products. The most affected industries are fashion, electronics, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, which suffer revenue losses and reputational harm. Seizures occur predominantly at ports, which speaks to the foreign origin of counterfeits and the trade routes used. The illicit trade of excise goods is also an issue, driven by high demand and a regulatory framework favouring tax avoidance. Recent border seizures have revealed undeclared excisable goods including alcohol and cigarettes. Illegal cigarette consumption has surged quite significantly in the past 15 years, especially in border areas where more than half of the cigarettes consumed are illicit. The economic impact is significant, with the resulting evasion of tax costing billions of US dollars annually.

Environment

Uruguay, historically a transit country for wildlife trafficking, has seen increased internal trade, particularly in native birds, driven by rising local demand for exotic pets, especially in Montevideo. The most trafficked species include parrots and turtles from Brazil and Paraguay, with a reduced incidence of monkeys compared to previous years. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has surged, becoming the most significant wildlife-related criminal market, involving foreign fishing vessels. Uruguay’s regulatory framework treats it as an administrative infraction rather than a crime, positioning the country to likely become a hub for illicit fishing in the South Atlantic, primarily by Chinese vessels exploiting marine resources and utilizing Montevideo’s port for logistics.

There is no evidence of flora crimes taking place in the country, nor does Uruguay appear to host a significant non-renewable resource crime market. The only criminal actors identified to engage in non-renewable resource crimes were private companies, mainly operating in the sand and mining sectors, with irregular and illegal practices occurring in some regions of the country.

Drugs

Uruguay has emerged as a major trans-shipment hub for cocaine destined for Europe and, to a lesser extent, Africa, with Montevideo’s port playing a central role. Cocaine seizures have increased over the past couple of years, reflecting growing domestic demand. Enhanced port infrastructure has facilitated trafficking, while international and local criminal groups, including Italian mafias, Mexican cartels and Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), drive competition and violence. Despite the surge, government responses have been limited, with minimal US and European counter-narcotics presence. Uruguay has limited heroin and opioid consumption.

Despite being the first country to fully legalize recreational cannabis in 2014 and its comprehensive regulatory framework, Uruguay faces challenges with illegal cannabis markets. Driven by concerns over data privacy, distrust in state systems and preference for higher THC levels than legally permitted, 25%–75% of domestic consumers continue to rely on illegal sources. The coexistence of legal and illegal markets undermines tax revenue and economic stability. Furthermore, criminal competition contributes to the local violence within the illegal cannabis trade. Despite all this, the size and value of the cannabis market remains small, compared with other criminal markets within the country.

Uruguay has evolved from a transit hub to a production and consumption centre for synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, methamphetamines and synthetic opioids. Seizures of synthetic drugs surged during the reporting period, with pill confiscations increasing notably. However, drug poisoning reports remained stable, suggesting consistent consumption levels. Ecstasy dominates local use, particularly among middle- and upper-class users at music events. Decreased risk perception among youth has contributed to rising consumption. Despite limited opioid misuse, there are growing concerns about fentanyl’s potential presence, prompting caution and coordination with international experts. Uruguay serves as both an import and export point in international drug trafficking, with European connections.

Cyber-dependent crimes

Uruguay faces increasing challenges from cyber-dependent crime, particularly crimes targeting large firms and networks in the telecommunications and data-processing sectors. Distributed denial-of-service, ransomware and hacking attacks appear to be among the more common types of cyber-dependent threats in Uruguay. Specific data on the size or frequency of cyberattacks is limited.

Financial Crimes

Uruguay, traditionally seen as having minimal financial crime, is facing growing challenges, with recent cases of pyramid schemes and cyber-enabled scams highlighting vulnerabilities. Phishing and investment swindles reportedly remain the prevalent methods of scammers. Advances in technology have raised concerns about increasing financial crime risks, but experts criticize a complacent attitude within the public and private sectors.

Criminal Actors

Mafia-style groups in Uruguay, rooted in family networks, operate primarily in Montevideo’s peripheral neighbourhoods, engaging in extortion and drug trafficking. These small, largely unstructured organized groups struggle to secure resources, limiting their territorial control and expansion, but the violence perpetrated by them has escalated in urban areas.

Loosely structured drug trafficking networks, primarily involved in cocaine and cannabis distribution, also operate in the country. Unlike neighbouring countries, Uruguay has not developed large-scale criminal syndicates, but its networks maintain connections with transnational organizations from Brazil and Argentina. These local groups function as logistical support for international actors, facilitating drug transportation via air, land and river routes, predominantly from Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Violence levels remain lower than in neighbouring countries, but territorial disputes still occur. The decentralized nature of these groups reduces hierarchical control, leading to inconsistent levels of violence.

Uruguay, traditionally seen as having low levels of corruption, faces emerging challenges linked to state-embedded criminal actors. Recent scandals, including the involvement of high-ranking officials in obtaining a passport for a drug trafficker, expose vulnerabilities within government structures. Criminal dynamics increasingly intersect with international networks, such as the Italian 'Ndrangheta, enabling cocaine trafficking and money laundering with suspected official collusion. Beyond drug-related activities, the complicity of state actors extends to human trafficking, child sexual exploitation and economic crimes, reflecting a pattern of infiltration at various levels of governance.

Uruguay’s strategic location, advanced financial systems and historically stringent banking secrecy laws have made it an emerging hub for transnational criminal activities including drug trafficking and money laundering. As heightened controls in traditional drug routes drive criminal organizations to diversify, non-traditional ports like Montevideo become pivotal for cocaine export, exploiting systemic vulnerabilities such as weak cargo control and inter-agency coordination. The interaction between local and foreign criminal actors is marked by collaboration, especially with Brazilian and Argentinian groups, although control remains contested. Brazilian criminal groups, notably the PCC, have established a presence in border areas, exploiting porous frontiers and leveraging local dynamics. The complex interplay of foreign and local criminal elements also extends to prisons, where overcrowding may facilitate recruitment. However, the influence of foreign groups within the country remains limited and confined to specific areas.

The country’s status as a tax haven, combined with the absence of robust legal provisions against private-sector bribery, creates an enabling environment for criminal networks to exploit the financial and real estate sectors for money laundering. International bodies have raised concerns over the extensive use of legal entities to conceal illicit financial flows, with drug trafficking and corruption identified as key predicate offences. Beyond the financial sector, recent cases have also pointed to the involvement of private companies in illegal mining operations, often making use of legal loopholes.

Leadership and governance

Uruguay is a constitutional republic with robust rule of law and democratic institutions, yet it faces growing challenges from organized crime, including drug trafficking and money laundering. Despite strong state structures and anti-corruption measures, recent incidents of violence and corruption have weakened public confidence in crime control. The government has maintained a strong stance against organized crime, establishing specialized agencies to address money laundering and human trafficking. However, financial and expertise constraints hinder policy implementation, and crime and public security are increasingly central to electoral discourse. Despite these challenges, Uruguay’s democratic process, institutional strength and commitment to transparency continue to reinforce its stability and credibility.

Uruguay has taken significant steps to enhance government transparency and combat corruption, notably through the establishment of a national anti-corruption secretariat and ratifying international conventions. Existing legislation to promote public access to government information is hampered by challenges that include a weak appeals process, politicized oversight and insufficient sanctions. A reluctance to publicly discuss corruption, despite its links to organized crime, influences perceptions of transparency. Additionally, the lack of official information and comprehensive public reports on anti-corruption and organized crime available to the public efforts hampers transparency and undermines the effectiveness of existing initiatives.

A strong commitment to combating organized crime is evident in Uruguay’s ratification of multiple international instruments and participation in extradition agreements, despite challenges in compliance and transborder cooperation. The country has endorsed global conventions against organized crime, corruption, drug trafficking and arms trade, and actively engages in maritime and aviation security programmes. Collaborative efforts include bilateral dialogues with the United States to address transnational crime and drug trafficking, and cooperation with the EU through initiatives like the Europe–Latin America Programme of Assistance against Transnational Organised Crime and the Seaport Cooperation Programme. Uruguay also addresses cybercrime through regional and international training. Extradition cases involving organized crime reflect international cooperation, while Uruguay’s reputation as a reliable partner enhances its regional and global standing.

Uruguay maintains a legal framework addressing organized crime, with laws targeting drug trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking and cybercrime. Reforms have further adjusted the legal definition of human trafficking, aligning it more closely with international standards. Uruguay also pursued firearm regulation through proposed registration requirements and an amnesty initiative. Efforts to strengthen cybercrime legislation culminated in the approval of a new law addressing online offences, moving toward international cybersecurity cooperation. Nevertheless, challenges persist in implementing these laws, particularly in terms of thorough investigations and successful prosecutions.

Criminal justice and security

Uruguay’s judicial system has specialized units in place for combating organized crime, including dedicated prosecutors and task forces. Despite some arrests and prosecutions, the dismantling of criminal networks remains limited. Courts can issue judgments against organized crime defendants, but resource constraints hinder efficiency. International assistance supports training and technical expertise, although sustainable state investment is needed. While prison staff corruption is not evident, overcrowding and inadequate health services persist, raising concerns over potential prison gang formation. Government measures address reported abuses, but harsh conditions remain problematic. Law enforcement actively combats organized crime through specialized units, although challenges persist due to crime networks’ adaptive and transnational nature. The government has bolstered efforts with domestic funding and international support, including training and equipment from global initiatives. Anti-trafficking measures integrate specialized training within broader law enforcement education, yet inconsistencies in victim identification remain. Regional and international intelligence-sharing enhances coordination, while efforts to counter cybercrime include establishing a cybercrime unit and international collaboration. Nevertheless, coordination among law enforcement and judicial authorities remains limited, and police training gaps persist despite efforts to modernize education and specialization. Uruguay faces challenges in monitoring and securing its borders, particularly along the extensive land boundary with Brazil and the coastline, which are both vulnerable to trafficking activities. The sparse distribution of law enforcement outside Montevideo complicates efforts to control illegal crossings, with criminal groups exploiting natural features such as rivers and forests. In response, the government has invested in modernizing border control infrastructure, including surveillance systems and checkpoints, and increasing cargo-inspection capacity.

Economic and financial environment

Uruguay has implemented various anti-money laundering (AML) measures, including ‘know your customer’ requirements and suspicious transaction reporting and a financial intelligence unit. Regulatory bodies oversee AML compliance, including the online gambling and crowdfunding sectors. Despite these efforts, experts have long warned of the country’s vulnerability to financial crimes, citing minimal investment in detection and prosecution. Criticism arose when the government increased the cash transaction limit, potentially enabling large-scale laundering. Nevertheless, Uruguay remains compliant with international standards, though enforcement challenges and policy gaps persist. Uruguay has a stable economic environment with moderate regulations and robust rule of law, fostering entrepreneurial opportunities. Mechanisms for regulatory oversight and enforcement are in place to curb illicit activities, and legitimate businesses generally operate without criminal interference. Uruguay’s territorial tax system and comparatively low tax rates attract individuals and businesses, especially from neighbouring countries, but also create incentives for smuggling and illicit trade due to regional price disparities.

Civil society and social protection

Progress has been made in addressing organized-crime victim care through state and non-state collaboration, although the termination of an NGO partnership has hindered assistance to trafficking victims and limited resources constrain responses to labour trafficking on foreign-flagged fishing vessels. The Ministry of Social Development and its subsidiaries lead service provision for crime victims, with specialized support for women and children. Efforts include hiring personnel to address child labour and offering assistance through the National Prosecutor’s Victims and Witness Protection Unit. The government has established hotlines and mobile apps for reporting crimes while ensuring whistle-blower protection. Sex crimes units have also been expanded and better funded. Despite these efforts, persistent challenges include inadequate support for male and labour-trafficking victims and insufficient proactive identification efforts. As for drug abuse victims, Uruguay launched a national plan on drug use in 2024, aiming to address drug use among people in prisons. The plan focuses on care, harm reduction and social reintegration for incarcerated individuals struggling with substance use. It emphasizes a public health and human rights approach, promoting inter-institutional cooperation and tailored interventions to improve health and social outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Uruguay has implemented national and regional strategies to combat organized crime, including human trafficking, drug trafficking and money laundering. It collaborates with regional organizations to address transnational crime, but challenges remain in resource allocation and inter-agency coordination. Human trafficking awareness initiatives, often integrated with gender-based violence prevention, include workshops for local officials. In prisons, the government launched a plan to address problematic drug use, aiming to reduce recidivism and enhance social reintegration, aligned with national policies. Additionally, a multi-stakeholder anti-corruption initiative focusing on fisheries transparency was introduced to bolster integrity efforts. Uruguay is enhancing inspections at Montevideo port to curb rising cocaine trafficking linked to limited scanner capacity.

Uruguay’s approach to combating organized crime involves collaboration between the state and civil society organizations, with the latter playing a vital role in victim support and drug treatment services. CSOs also address wildlife trafficking through joint initiatives with state structures. The state promotes an independent civil society sector, including a relatively free and open media environment, despite occasional challenges related to media ownership concentration. While Uruguay experiences lower violence levels compared to other Latin American countries, threats and intimidation linked to organized crime occasionally target journalists and activists. Recent incidents include threats against media outlets and civil society members reporting on drug trafficking.