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How to obtain EU publications Our priced publications are available from EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu/), where you can place an order with the sales agent of your choice. The Publications Office has a worldwide network of sales agents. You can obtain their contact details by sending a fax to (352) 29 29-42758. Legal notice This publication of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and Europol is protected by copyright. The EMCDDA and Europol accept no responsibility or liability for any consequences arising from the use of the data contained in this document. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of EMCDDA and Europol partners, the EU Member States or any agency or institution of the European Union. Information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu). Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2013 ISBN 978-92-9168-595-0 doi: 10.2810/85143 © European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2013 Cais do Sodré, 1249–289 Lisbon, Portugal Tel. + 351 211210200 • [email protected] • http://www.emcdda.europa.eu © Europol, 2013 The Hague, the Netherlands File No: EDOC 646955 Publications: https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications/ All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by the copyright thereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems — without the permission of the EMCDDA and Europol. Photo credits (unless otherwise stated): EMCDDA, European Union, Europol, iStockphoto. Printed in Portugal PRINTED ON WHITE CHLORINE-FREE PAPER Contents Foreword 7 Introduction 9 Acknowledgements 11 At a glance 13 Chapter 1 | Context 16 The structure of this report 16 The framework of European policy initiatives 17 International initiatives 20 Chapter 2 | Heroin 24 Introduction 24 Global overview 24 Production and precursor issues 26 Consumer markets for opioids in Europe 29 Trends in heroin trafficking in Europe 30 Trends in organised crime involvement with heroin in Europe 32 Responses to heroin trafficking at European and international level 33 Chapter 3 | Cocaine 38 Introduction 38 Global overview 38 Production and precursor issues 39 Consumer markets for cocaine in Europe 42 Trends in cocaine trafficking in Europe 43 Trends in organised crime involvement with cocaine in Europe 47 Responses to cocaine trafficking at European and international level 48 Chapter 4 | Cannabis 54 Introduction 54 Global overview 54 3 Production issues 55 Consumer markets for cannabis in Europe 59 Trends in cannabis trafficking in Europe 60 Trends in organised crime involvement with cannabis in Europe 64 Responses to cannabis trafficking at European and international level 65 Chapter 5 | Amphetamine 68 Introduction 68 Global overview 68 Production and precursor issues 70 Consumer markets for amphetamine in Europe 71 Trends in amphetamine production and trafficking in Europe 72 Trends in organised crime involvement with amphetamine and other synthetic drugs in Europe 76 Responses to synthetic drugs trafficking at European and international level 79 Chapter 6 | Methamphetamine 84 Introduction 84 Global overview 85 Production and precursor issues 85 Consumer markets for methamphetamine in Europe 88 Trends in methamphetamine production and trafficking in Europe 89 Chapter 7 | Ecstasy 94 Introduction 94 Global overview 94 Production and precursor issues 96 Consumer markets for ecstasy in Europe 99 Trends in ecstasy trafficking in Europe 100 Chapter 8 | New psychoactive substances 106 Introduction 106 Production, marketing and supply of new drugs 108 The drivers of new drugs 110 The interplay between the new drug market and illicit drug market 111 C o n s u m e r m a r ke t s 111 Responding to new drugs in the EU 112 Responses by Member States 113 4 Chapter 9 | Issues in focus 116 Cross-border displacement of cannabis cultivation: a Belgian perspective 116 The Internet as a facilitator for drug trafficking 118 Drug trafficking and terrorism 120 High-level drug trafficking through the lens of Eurojust casework 122 Chapter 10 | Conclusions and recommendations 126 Introduction 126 Drivers of change for the modern European drug market 126 Drugs in perspective 131 Information needs 140 References 144 Abbreviations 153 5 Foreword Drug trafficking—whilst illegal—is a highly profitable in Europe; as well as the commercial activity. Understanding this market reality sheer speed of change in requires a holistic approach, following the economic European drug markets— chain from production to consumption via trafficking. clearly call for more action and cooperation at EU level. This report is the result of a cross-fertilisation between Europol and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs These insights will feed the new EU policy cycle process on and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), two EU agencies organised and serious international crime (new priorities under my responsibility. For the first time, it provides and actions are to be adopted for the period 2013–2017). to the law enforcement community, policymakers, the academic sphere and public at large a comprehensive No doubt there is a lot of work ahead of us. Illicit drug picture of all illegal drug markets at EU level. In doing markets are a huge economic challenge. According so, it goes beyond a mere statistical analysis or threat to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, assessment to provide a strategic analysis of one of 70 % of the criminal proceeds of drug trafficking the most complex and invasive criminal phenomena of are laundered through the financial system and then our times. Furthermore, it includes analyses of selected penetrate our licit economy. We need to be better markets, reviews of policy responses and last but not able to identify this impact on European society and least presents recommendations for the future. on the EU economy. This is the reason why future work should aim to quantify and analyse how illicit Some of the key points revealed by the report—connections drug markets interact with the licit economy. between cocaine and cannabis resin trafficking networks and between cocaine and heroin trafficking groups; growth Cecilia Malmström in the number, type and availability of new substances European Commissioner for Home Affairs 7 Introduction This is the first time that Europol and the EMCDDA have for example, how the drug market is influenced by global joined forces to produce a comprehensive analysis of the issues and new technologies. These developments have an European drug market in its entirety. Previous joint impact on all aspects of modern life, and they are now publications from our agencies have focused on individual beginning to shape both a new kind of drug problem and a market elements, but up to now we have never brought these new kind of drug market. Our task here is to stimulate a together within a single analytical framework. The big debate so that responses can be configured and actions can picture needs to be seen—the increasingly joined-up nature be taken to ensure that Europe continues to tackle the drugs of the modern European drug market demands an equally problem in a comprehensive and balanced way. joined-up analysis. Being forward-looking, however, does not imply a disregard Information and analysis are fundamental to the work of for the lessons we have learnt. A strong conclusion emerging both Europol and the EMCDDA. But the organisations’ from the analysis presented here is that we need to continue perspectives and relationships to data are different. This to invest in measures that have been shown to work, such as report benefits from Europol’s strategic perspective and intelligence-led policing; the targeting of key organised operational understanding of trends and developments in crime figures, financial transactions and precursor chemicals; organised crime that comes from working actively in the and coordinated actions and cooperation between national field to support European law enforcement efforts. This is law enforcement bodies. Europe’s strategy on drugs is to complemented by the insight that comes from the EMCDDA’s combine holistically a rigorous demand and supply ongoing monitoring and analysis of data covering various reduction approach. But within this strategy, the individual aspects of the drug phenomenon in Europe and beyond. The tools chosen for our interventions need to be continually joint vision that the two agencies bring to this topic is a reviewed and tested. Not all approaches work and, broad and complementary one, and we believe the analysis crucially, not all approaches that worked in the past will be it generates is in many ways unique. The drug market is a effective in the future. History has shown us that good complex place; we cannot fully understand the supply of intentions do not necessarily deliver results in the drugs drugs in Europe if we do not comprehend the changing area. Most importantly, the dynamic and responsive nature nature of demand. Patterns of drug use in the EU are of the drug market means that we are faced with a moving changing: new drugs enter the marketplace on a regular target, where any success is likely to be transient. This is why basis and drug users rarely restrict their consumption to monitoring, analysis and assessment are essential tools for specific substances. Equally, the criminality that the drug ensuring that our strategies and responses remain fit for market generates can only be properly understood in the purpose.
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