DrugsNews

New Europol and EMCDDA Analyses of the European Drug Market

Drug trafficking is a highly profitable commercial activity and remains a core business for organised crime groups across Europe today. Understanding the reality of the European drug market requires a holistic approach, following the supply chain from production and trafficking to distribution and use.

Taking such an approach, two EU agencies, Europol and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), have joined forces to provide their latest overview of the European illicit market for two stimulant drugs: cocaine and methamphetamine.

To be presented in Brussels on 6 May, the analyses combine data from Europol’s operational intelligence on organised crime with the EMCDDA’s drug monitoring system.

These are the first in a series of online modules exploring the EU drug market. Further modules will be published in 2023 to complete the strategic analysis. These will cover amphetamine, cannabis, heroin, MDMA and new psychoactive substances, as well as impacts, drivers and responses.