After faking his own death multiple times, Dutch drug trafficker Marco Ebben has finally met his end in a bizarre case that sheds light on the connections between European and Latin American criminal organizations.

For years, Ebben moved between Dubai, Turkey, and Mexico, evading authorities and staging his death at least twice. But in mid-February 2025, his name made headlines again when he was found riddled with bullets in a parking lot in Atizapán de Zaragoza, in the state of Mexico. While authorities have confirmed his identity, the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. Only his girlfriend identified the body, and fake Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) documents were found at the crime scene.

“In October, reports of his death surfaced, but many in law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office were skeptical. It seemed more like an attempt to fake his own demise to disappear,” Jan Meeus, a Dutch crime journalist and author of “The Schiedam Cocaine Mafia,” told InSight Crime.

Ebben was no ordinary drug trafficker. His story represents a shift in the dynamics of drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe. For years, Mexican cartels and European criminal organizations maintained a transactional relationship: cocaine in exchange for money. However, Ebben’s role within the Sinaloa Cartel suggests a deeper level of integration, where European traffickers are not just customers but become part of the cartel’s structure.

A Criminal Lineage and a Reckless Rise

Ebben, 32, came from a family with a history of criminal activity in the Netherlands. His father, Henk Ebben, was a key figure in the drug trade during the 1990s, managing drug routes to the United Kingdom before being arrested and sentenced for drug trafficking and a series of underworld murders.

“When he got out in 2006 or 2007, he tried to get back into the business with his son Marco, but things had changed,” Meeus explained.

In their early years, Marco and his father lacked the capital to invest directly in drug trafficking, so they offered their knowledge of the port of Rotterdam to other traffickers. 

“It was what we now call ‘crime as a service,’” Meeus said.

But Marco soon sought his own path.

“Marco was not a strategist. He had no long-term vision or solid planning. He was opportunistic, impulsive, and got involved in anything that offered him power or money,” Meeus noted.

His rise was rapid but also dangerous. Unlike his father, who operated with more caution, Marco was reckless, making him a target for other criminals. 

“Marco was described by underworld figures as someone fearless and out of control. Many of my sources in the criminal world said he wouldn’t grow old,” Meeus said. 

In 2019, threats against Ebben led the Dutch police to place him under protective custody. And in 2020, Ebben was convicted of smuggling 400 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil to the Netherlands. However, he managed to evade authorities and went on the run, becoming one of Europol’s most wanted criminals. He reportedly sought refuge in Dubai and Turkey, where he first attempted to fake his death after surviving a real assassination attempt in 2023.

SEE ALSO: The Cocaine Pipeline to Europe

Shortly thereafter, he reappeared in Mexico, where he secured protection from a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. By then, he was no longer just a European drug trafficker seeking refuge—he was actively involved in the cartel’s internal war, siding with the part of the criminal group controlled by Ismael Zambada García, alias “El Mayo.”

“His connection to the Sinaloa Cartel surprised many. For years, the port of Rotterdam has been key to cocaine trafficking into Europe, and Marco had contacts with traffickers in Panama. But what stands out is his involvement in the cartel’s internal conflicts following the capture of some of its leaders,” Meeus explained.

A Foreigner in the Sinaloa Cartel’s Internal War

In October 2024, Ebben was named as a participant in a violent clash between Sinaloa Cartel factions. At the time, reports circulated that he had been killed, but there was no conclusive evidence. Now, four months later, his death has been reported again, this time in Atizapán de Zaragoza, in the state of Mexico.

“In a way, his life ended as he lived it—surrounded by violence, moving between different drug trafficking networks, and ultimately meeting his fate in Mexico,” Meeus said.

According to Mexican journalist Antonio Nieto, on February 13, 2025, gunmen ambushed Ebben in a parking lot, shooting him 15 times before fleeing. Perhaps inevitably, the circumstances of his alleged death have raised suspicions. Nieto reported that Ebben was carrying fake DEA ID and had met with two US federal agents in December, a move that may have led to his execution or been part of escape plan.

Indeed, this has led some to question whether this is yet another ploy to disappear. 

“Now that recent photos have surfaced, I’d be surprised if it’s not really him. But with Marco, you never know. He was the kind of person who would do anything to stay in the game,” Meeus said.

The Evolving Drug Trade Between Mexico and Europe

Beyond Ebben’s fate, his story highlights the evolving relationship between Mexican cartels and European criminal networks. Until recently, their connection was mostly limited to the purchase and sale of cocaine. But today, Mexican cartels are expanding their presence in Europe in more sophisticated ways.

“In recent years, we’ve seen how Mexican cartels have increased their presence in Europe with methamphetamine production in Dutch labs, where Mexican cooks have been found,” Meeus noted.

SEE ALSO: Mexican Methamphetamine Increasingly Moving Through Europe

One of the most significant developments has been the establishment of methamphetamine labs in the Netherlands and Spain, operated by Mexican chemists. Dutch police have identified labs with ties to Mexico, and in some cases, this collaboration has been described as a “Dutch-Mexican criminal corporation.” According to Meeus, “the Dutch provide the infrastructure, and the Mexicans bring the expertise to produce high-quality methamphetamine.”

As a result, Europe is also facing a rise in methamphetamine consumption, as it has become a key destination for the chemical precursors used in the production of this synthetic drug.

A Precedent for Organized Crime in Europe

The Ebben case raises a crucial question: Are other European criminals following his footsteps? While most European traffickers have preferred to run their operations from their home countries, the integration of figures like Ebben into Mexican cartels suggests that some are willing to take on a more active role.

“We don’t know if the presence of figures like Marco Ebben establishing direct connections with criminal networks in Mexico signals a more aggressive expansion of Mexican organized crime into Europe, but it is something that seriously concerns law enforcement,” Meeus said.

Whatever the case, Ebben’s death—or disappearance—may just be the beginning of a far more complex story, in which the lines between Mexican and European organized crime continue to blur.

Featured image: Collage showing Marco Ebben. Credit: InSight Crime.

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