DrugsNews

Norway sees decrease in drug seizures in the first half of 2021

Kripos´ drug statistics contain both customs and police seizures, and show that in 2021, 9,286 drug cases were registered. Compared with the period 2017-2019, there is a case reduction of around 25 percent. The decrease from the same period last year is around 14 per cent, and applies both in fines cases and in serious drug cases.

– The causal links to the decline are not part of the analyzes carried out at the section for drug crime. Kripos looks at quantities, strength and types of substances, but we are not in the overall picture for reasons for the development of seizures, says head of the section for drug analysis at Kripos, Kari Frey Solvik.

Some increase in cannabis seizures after decline last year

In the first half of the year, 1,365 kg of hashish, marijuana and cannabis plants were seized, divided into 4,642 seizures.

– The total number of seizures is at the same level as in 2020. After a large reduction in hashish seizures last year, there is some increase in both the number of seizures and the amount seized this year. There are still few seizures seen in a ten-year perspective, says Solvik.

As in previous years, a number of seizures of cannabis seeds have been made as well as various products with THC, including cannabis oil, approx. 2.5 kg of sweets and about 5 kg of cakes.

In the first half of the year, approx. 24 kg of cocaine divided into 682 seizures. The number of fittings is approx. 8% lower than in 2020.

– The decrease in cocaine seizures is thus somewhat smaller than the general decrease in cases. Seized quantity is somewhat smaller than last year. So far this year, amphetamine has been seized significantly less than last year, but about the average for the last decade, says Solvik.

In the first half of the year, approx. 216 kg of amphetamines (amphetamine and methamphetamine) divided into 1,916 seizures. After amphetamine seizures increased significantly last year, there is a 32% reduction in the number of seizures this year.

Significant reduction in seizures in MDMA after record numbers in 2020

In the first half of 2021, approx. 12,200 tablets and approx. 2 kg MDMA powder and crystalline material distributed on 457 fittings. The seized powder corresponds to approx. 11,300 tablets with a strength of 150 mg / tablet. While there were record high seizure rates for MDMA in 2020, there has been a significant reduction in seizures in the last six months. The number of fittings is approx. 40% lower than last year, and both the number of seizures and quantities seized are less than in many years.

30.4 kg of heroin have been seized in 286 seizures in the first half of the year. There is a reduction of approx. 13% in the number of seizures compared to last year. The quantity is higher than last year, but somewhat lower than the average for the last decade.

In both 2020 and 2021, some heroin seizures with a very high degree of potency (40-65%) have been registered. That is, the drug is three to four times more potent than the typical heroin seizures. Since the potent substances do not differ from normal heroin qualities in appearance or consistency, they represent an increased risk of overdoses and deaths.

Drug statistics 1st half of 2021 (2.36 MB pdf)