This research is based on a qualitative discourse study of news articles in the Western Balkans. The aim is to investigate how organized crime has been represented in twelve news articles in the Western Balkans since 2022. The study adopts the social constructivist theory based on the fact that reality is what we make it. To carry out this study, three questions were used from the "What's the problem represented to be" approach by Bacchi, which analyzes how organized crime is represented, which assumptions lie behind this representation, and which perspectives have failed to be considered.

The text analysis showed that organized crime is mainly associated with drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and money laundering and threatens society, including education. The articles describe organized crime as a complex problem that affects society's trust in institutions. The articles highlight the fight against organized crime, which law enforcement can only do. News media portrays the phenomenon and law enforcement as opposing forces controlling the drug trade.

It is also essential for news articles to use government officials as sources, where these officials praise the work of law enforcement. However, it fails to recognize socio-economic factors and corruption asessential contributors. The phenomenon's complexity needs to be more concise, and the articles overlook alternative approaches to fighting organized crime.