THE HAGUE - The illicit drugs trade continues to dominate serious and organised crime in the European Union, in terms of the number of criminals involved and the vast profits generated, write Alexis Goosdeel Director, EMCDDA, and Catherine De Bolle Executive Director of Europol in a report report published today by Europol.
The report 'EU Drug Markets Analysis 2024' looks at the links between the illicit drugs trade and other crime areas in the European Union, such as the trafficking in firearms, as drug trafficking networks require a range of tools and capacities to facilitate their activities.
The EMCDDA and Europol play a central role, supporting Member States and cooperating with third countries to strengthen Europe’s preparedness and response to illicit drug flows.
This market is part of a complex global criminal enterprise, with cross-border collaboration through facilitators and brokers creating a fluid and networked environment.Globalisation continues to have a significant impact as criminals exploit the opportunities provided by interconnected networks of communication, trade and transport for criminal cooperation and integration along supply chains.
These developments have influenced links between the illicit drugs trade and other crime areas in the European Union, such as the trafficking in firearms, as drug trafficking networks require a range of tools and capacities to facilitate their activities.The European drug market has seen an unprecedented increase in the availability of illicit drugs, evidenced by elevated drug purity and stable prices at retail level, as well as a diversification of drugs and consumer products.
This situation is also driven by sustained high levels of demand and criminal innovation, as illicit drug markets have become highly resilient and adaptable in the face of unexpected global events.The EU drug market has wide-ranging impacts on our society, evident in drug-related deaths and the number of people seeking treatment. It also fuels the expansion of organised crime, increased levels of corruption and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
Much of the violence associated with serious and organised crime in Europe is related to the drug trade. Meanwhile, illicit drug production leads to environmental damage, while the economy and the rule of law are undermined by the exploitation of legal businesses.
The constantly evolving and multifaceted drug market demands a multi-pronged approach, involving law enforcement, public health, education and international cooperation. Recognising the global interconnectedness of markets and criminal actors is crucial to developing effective responses to address current and future threats, as developments in other parts of the world will continue to influence the EU drug markets.These complexities underscore the need for robust responses, as brought forward in the new EU Roadmap to tackle drug trafficking and organised crime.
Priority areas include reducing supply by disrupting high-risk criminal networks and the key brokers and facilitators, such as money launderers, on which they rely, while simultaneously improving access to evidence-based harm reduction, treatment and rehabilitation measures. Ultimately, we need to strengthen social resilience in the European Union and address the underlying socioeconomic factors that contribute to the harms and act as drivers of the illicit drug market.
To download the full report, visit: https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/EU%20Drug%20Markets%20Analysis%202024.pdf
