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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