emcdda.europa.eu/start/2016/drug-markets

EU Drug Markets Report

ILLICIT DRUG

MARKETS

Wider criminal activity and

terrorism

Impact on society

more generally

Impact on the legal economy

Strain on government institutions

TerrorismHuman

tra�cking and

exploitation

Government expenditure

Corruption of o�cials

Impact on development

and governance

Impact on individuals, families and

neighbourhoods

Drug-related crime and violence

Environmental damage

Tra�cking of arms

and other illicit goods

In�ltration by illicit �nancial

�ows

Impact on businesses

Money laundering and cash

smuggling

Cannabis

Amphetamine, methamphetamine,

MDMA

Key issues The market is dominated by domestic herbal product Potency increases but prices remain stable Cannabis use raises health concerns Organised crime plays a key role Moroccan cannabis resin is moving east Rapid innovation in production of resin, herb and oher products

Understanding the widespread ramifications of illicit drug markets

Main illicit drug markets in the EU

Drug markets have wide-ranging and varied impacts; linking to wider criminality and having negative effects on the licit economy, government institutions and society more generally. Drugs are big business: key concerns for most participants are maximising profits, ensuring sustainability and maintaining competitive advantage, while minimising risk. Understanding how they operate can identify opportunities to intervene and damage their operations.

Key influences on new developments in the markets and how the criminals involved operate are:

Globalisation — this simultaneously facilitates drug supply, by generally improving its efficiency and multiplying opportunities for trafficking, while hampering drug supply reduction activities

Technological developments and the Internet — these not only provide new ways to access customers and suppliers but also opportunities to enhance the efficiency and security of off-line criminal activities

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

0

5

10

15

20

25

% THC

11.7

18.7

9.8

14.814.2

7.9

11.6

6.4

11.6

6.0

Resin potency

20.7

7.3

19.2

17.2

5.8

2.4

16.1

4.0

14.3

0.9

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

0

15

10

5

20

1.3 1.0

3.5 4.8 4.8

7.0 6.1 6.2

7.1 8.0

9.7 10.7

9.9 10.6

12.0 11.8 11.3

13.4 13.4 13.1

% THC

Herb potency

HighTypicalLow

25

HighTypicalLow

AmphetamineMethamphetamineMDMA

Trends in cannabis potency in the EU

Amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA production sites in the EU, 2013–15

New psychoactive substances

Key issues No slow-down in the number,

type and availability Production and

distribution is globalised The internet plays a key role Marketing strategies are

sophisticated Health risks are

significant

Number of NPS reported to the EU Early Warning System for the first time

0

50

100

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Other substances Opioids Benzodiazepines Arylalkylamines Piperidines and pyrrolidines Plants and extracts Aminoindanes

Arylcyclohexylamines Synthetic cannabinoids Cathinones Piperazines Tryptamines Phenethylamines

Source: EMCDDA.

Policymaking processes

Legislativeprocesses

Policy support, coordination and implementation

Member States

EU institutions and bodies

European Council

European Parliament

Council of the EU

European Commission

EEAS

Council committeesand working groups

COSI

HDG

Coordination platform

EMPACT

EU agencies

EMCDDA

Europol

Eurojust

Frontex

CEPOL

Main EU structures addressing drug supply reduction issues

Tackling the illicit drug markets

In response to the widespread impacts of the illicit drug markets, drug supply reduction is addressed in several policy areas at EU level and is a core component of the drug strategies and responses of Member States. The EU Drugs Strategy (2013–20) and action plan (2013–16) provide a framework for addressing illicit drugs in the EU, complementing Member States’ national strategies and supporting joint actions. The overarching objective of the EU Drugs Strategy in the area of supply reduction is a measurable reduction of the availability of illicit drugs through the disruption of illicit drug trafficking; the dismantling of OCGs that are involved in drug production and trafficking; efficient use of the criminal justice system; effective intelligence-led law enforcement and increased intelligence sharing; and an EU-level emphasis on large-scale, cross-border and organised drug-related crime.

Retail value: €9.3 billion

Retail value: €1.8 billion

About the EU Drug Markets Report

The EU Drug Markets Report 2016 is the second comprehensive overview of illicit drug markets in the European Union by the EMCDDA and Europol. Taking an

evidence-based approach, the report considers the impacts of the drug market on wider society and reviews the markets for cannabis, heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and new psychoactive substances. It also provides concrete action points to inform policy development at EU and national level.

Key issues Production occurs in specific hotspots Innovation in production and marketing methods Production has a negative environmental impact Markets are complex and overlapping Highly potent MDMA tablets and more

methamphetamine are available The EU is an export and transit zone Organised crime plays a major role

Estimated minimum retail value

€24 billion 28 %

24 %

38 %

8 %

3 %

Note: These estimates for 2013 are based on very limited data, with many gaps, which has necessitated some very broad assumptions. Hence, these figures must be viewed

as initial minimum estimates that will need to be revised in the future as the data underpinning them is improved.

EU Drug Markets Report

2016

In-depth Analysis

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About this reportTh e EU Drug Markets Report 2016 is the second comprehensive overview of illicit drug

markets in the European Union by the EMCDDA and Europol. Th e analysis presented

in this report spans numerous topics such as the links between drugs and other

crimes, the licit economy and society more generally as well as the processes and

players involved in the trade from production and traffi cking to distribution. Taking an

evidence-based approach, the report reviews the markets for heroin, cocaine, cannabis,

amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and new psychoactive substances. It also

provides concrete action points to inform policy development at EU and national level.

Th is publication is an essential reference for law enforcement professionals,

policymakers, the academic community and indeed for anyone seeking up-to-date

information and analysis on drug markets in Europe.

About the EMCDDATh e European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is the central

source and confi rmed authority on drug-related issues in Europe. For over 20 years,

it has been collecting, analysing and disseminating scientifi cally sound information

on drugs and drug addiction and their consequences, providing its audiences with an

evidence-based picture of the drug phenomenon at European level. Based in Lisbon,

the EMCDDA is one of the decentralised agencies of the European Union.

www.emcdda.europa.eu

About EuropolEuropol is the European Union’s law enforcement agency whose mission is to support

its Member States in preventing and combating all forms of serious international and

organised crime and terrorism. Europol employs almost 1 000 staff at its headquarters

in Th e Hague. Th ey provide a unique and evolving set of operational products and

services to EU law enforcement authorities for their everyday work, including eff orts

to tackle illicit drug traffi cking, money laundering, cybercrime and terrorism. Europol’s

focus is to look further ahead for more opportunities to streamline cooperation and the

fi ght against organised crime and terrorism, with the ultimate goal of achieving a safer

Europe for the benefi t of all EU citizens.

www.europol.europa.eu

ISBN 978-92-9168-842-5

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Cocaine

Key issues Trafficking routes are multiple and complex Demand is stable but availability may be increasing Production estimates are hard to interpret Precursor: continued vigilance is needed Secondary extraction labs: a threat? Organised crime: new ways, new players

Heroin

Key issues Implications of large

seizures must be understood

Organised crime is changing practices

The Balkan route remains important

Trafficking routes have a wider impact

Heroin causes most of Europe’s drug-related health and social costs

The opioid market is becoming more diversified and complex

Understanding shifts in heroin production is essential

Retail value: €6.8 billion

Qu

anti

ty s

eize

d (

kg)

Nu

mb

er o

f se

izu

res

>1

00

kg

Number of seizures >100 kg

0

1 000

2 000

3 000

4 000

5 000

6 000

7 000

8 000

9 000

10 000

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2011 2012 2013 2014

Seizures ≥100 kg Seizures <100 kg

Trend in large seizures of heroin and their contribution to total seized in the EU

Retail value: €5.7 billion

To southern Africa

EMCDDA reporting countries

Main coca producer countries

Air route (general)

Air route (commercial)

Land route

Maritime route

To transit countries

and Europe

To Europe

To Gulf of Guinea

To PanamaCanal andCaribbean

To Iberian Peninsula

To west and central

Europe

Main trafficking flows of cocaine to Europe

Retail value: €0.7 billion

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