The majority of the cocaine seized in the EU is transported by sea, mainly in maritime transport containers. Cocaine is shipped towards the EU straight from the nations around the world of generation but also from neighbouring nations of departure in South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. Dependant on quantities of cocaine seized in European ports and in ports in other places destined for Europe (see Box Specific Evaluation of cocaine seized in or destined for EU), Brazil (about seventy one tonnes), Ecuador (67.5 tonnes) and Colombia (about 32 tonnes) ended up the key departure factors in 2020, since they have been for some many years, followed by Costa Rica (twenty.four tonnes). The latter can be a relative newcomer in the best international locations of origin for shipments destined for Europe, confirming that Central The usa now has a far more important position (EMCDDA and Europol, 2019).
A worrying progress is details exists to counsel that some Latin American and European felony networks are partnering in cocaine creation pursuits in Europe, and maybe also in South The united states. This phenomenon has also been noticed for other prescription drugs, especially methamphetamine.
Cocaine smuggling by air mostly consists of the use of commercial passenger flights, cargo plane and common aviation (private aircraft). Quite huge shipments of cocaine are smuggled directly from South America and the Caribbean to western Europe by private small business plane, and use of this process is predicted to increase in the future.
A proactive strategy is required to speedily determine and abide by up on alerts of improved cocaine use. This will require a multi-indicator strategy incorporating both equally established statistical info, such as seizures, cost and purity, and new, far more modern checking methods, including wastewater Assessment, healthcare facility emergencies, syringe residue analysis, drug checking and checking of darknet markets as well as other online source channels.
Chemical profiling of samples of cocaine seized in Europe suggests that Colombia carries on to generally be the leading resource nation, Despite the fact that the volume of samples of Peruvian origin has enhanced noticeably in recent years.
Make improvements to forensic tests capabilities at European and Member State degree. Greater attempts are required to harmonise the regimen forensic Investigation of cocaine seizures in Europe to support the gathering and reporting of comparable facts within the cocaine market place.
Cocaine was the 2nd most commonly encountered issue drug amongst persons entering specialised drug treatment method for the very first time of their lives, cited by an estimated twenty five 000 clientele or 21 % of all to start with-time entrants (see the Customers entering remedy for cocaine infographic, below).
Probably the most Regular blend was a combination of a stimulant and an opioid. Cocaine was detected in over fifty % of syringes analysed in Athens, Cologne, Dublin and Thessaloniki, with a combination of cocaine and heroin getting by far the most Recurrent mix observed.
Latest cocaine seizures involving personal jets illustrate this modus read more operandi carries on to be used by legal networks and supply more evidence to the troubles confronted by law enforcement in investigating these conditions.
Knowledge obtainable for several vital countries point out that even larger portions of cocaine had been seized during the EU in 2021. For example, information on cocaine seizures in Belgium show that nearly 92 tonnes of cocaine was seized in 2021, almost all within the port of Antwerp. If seizures manufactured in other places of shipments that were destined for Antwerp are taken into account, then close to 194 tonnes of cocaine was seized in connection with Antwerp in 2021 (Belgian Federal Police, particular conversation).
Much of our knowledge about cocaine trafficking routes success from legislation enforcement exercise and intelligence. Information on types and portions of medicine seized and information on the origin and desired destination of shipments give indications of the most crucial routes and modes of transport.
Goal the brokers, important facilitators and enablers. These higher-price targets Enjoy a critical part in The present operating model on the cocaine sector by facilitating the generation, substantial-scale trafficking and distribution on the drug in Europe.
Although it is tricky to watch systematically, critical violence connected to the cocaine market seems to be increasing. Some the latest higher-profile conditions now also counsel that it impacts sectors beyond the drug trafficking sphere together with journalists and government officials.
Additionally, There exists now a perfectly-set up secondary cocaine output market in Europe, with 34 cocaine laboratories dismantled in 2021, a rise over the preceding calendar year. These consist of significant-scale secondary extraction and cocaine hydrochloride production web sites and a further 14 reducing and packaging spots. The existence of those laboratories is indicative of innovation in trafficking methods where by cocaine could possibly be incorporated with other products building significant worries for its detection in industrial shipments.