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As illegal drug use and supply increases in the EU, member states ramp up efforts to tackle drug trafficking and organised crime.
Almost 70% of drug seizures by customs authorities take place in the European Union’s ports with significant volumes of drugs — particularly cocaine — discovered in intermodal shipping containers. In 2023, over 22 million adults in Europe reported using cannabis — the most commonly used illicit drug across all 27 member states. After cannabis, cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit drug in Europe, according to the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). In 2022, EU countries recorded 84,000 cocaine seizures, totalling 323 tonnes, which marked an increase from 303 tonnes in 2021.This is a record amount for the sixth year in a row. Belgium (111 tonnes), the Netherlands (51.5 tonnes) and Spain (58.3 tonnes) accounted for 68% of the total quantity seized.Around 2.5% of young adults reported having used cocaine in the last year on average across EU countries, according to the OECD report. The highest percentage of young adults using cocaine is found in the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, and Denmark, where 4.0% or more reported having used cocaine at least once in 2023. Cocaine residues in municipal wastewater increased in 49 out of 72 cities in the EU, according to data from 2022 and 2023. In France, nearly 197,000 consumers were fined for drug use in 2024, surging 21% over 2023. Seizures by French authorities reached 47 tonnes in the first 11 months of 2024, compared to 23 tonnes for all of 2023. What is the EU and member states doing to tackle this issue?The EU has intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking and organised crime.In September 2024, Eurojust, the EU’s judicial cooperation agency, launched the European Judicial Organized Crime Network, focusing on tackling drug-related crimes.EU member states have also launched national campaigns to raise awareness about the consequences of drug use and to target users contributing to the illicit drug economy. France’s Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, recently shared a video on X as part of a campaign warning about the impacts of cocaine use.In his post, he stated: “Every day, people pay the price for the drugs you buy.”Belgium is reinforcing maritime police forces at the harbour of Antwerp to fight rising drug violence.In 2024, more than 7,000 individuals have been checked at the port, resulting in the arrest of 51 suspects this year alone. These measures are being accelerated following a recent wave of drug-related violence in Brussels that led to two deaths within two weeks.Portugal’s police force also has launched several raids aimed at combating corruption and drug trafficking. This operation targets officials from the Tax Authority and the ports of Lisbon, Setúbal, and Sines, who may facilitate the entry of large quantities of drugs from Latin America into the country.Video editor • Mert Can Yilmaz
