Based on data from 29 countries (27 EU Member States, Norway and Turkey), drugs are having an increasingly negative impact on public health and safety in Europe.
Organised criminal groups are increasingly resorting to violence.
Opioids, particularly when combined with other substances, remain the leading cause of drug-related deaths in Europe. In 2024, at least 7,600 fatal overdoses were recorded in the EU.
The report highlights the widespread availability of cocaine, synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances. New cannabis-based products are constantly appearing on the market, and the variety of opioids and stimulants is growing.
“The illicit drug trade poses a serious threat to security in Europe,” the document emphasises. Organised criminal networks are actively diversifying their supply routes and methods in an attempt to evade increased controls at major ports.
They are increasingly using smaller ports and more sophisticated methods of concealing shipments. The volume of cocaine seized in Europe in 2024 fell by more than 20% compared to 419 tonnes in 2023.
At the same time, the number of seizures rose to 97,000 (compared to 95,000 the previous year).