EU Drugs Report: Traffickers Diversify Routes, New Drugs Emerge, Over 7,600 Overdoses
Transnational crime groups are diversifying drug trafficking routes and methods in Europe, using smaller ports and advanced concealment. The EU Annual Drugs Report highlights increased health risks from new psychoactive drugs, polysubstance use, and the exploitation of youth. Opioids cause over 7,600 deaths annually, while cannabis and cocaine remain prevalent, with new production and trafficking trends emerging.
Transnational organized crime groups are diversifying drug trafficking routes and methods to evade detection, bringing multi-million Euro consignments to Europe. They increasingly use smaller ports, at-sea transfers with 'go-fast' boats and semi-submersibles, drones, and sophisticated concealment techniques. This shift, a response to intensified policing at major ports, makes detection harder and strains law enforcement.
The EU Annual Drugs Report, based on data from 29 countries, highlights that organized crime exploits vulnerable youth for trafficking and violence. A new psychoactive drug is detected weekly in Europe, with 50 new drugs, including potent synthetic opioids, reported last year. The European Drugs Agency (EUDA) monitors over 1,000 substances and warns of rapid market evolution and increased health risks due to wider availability and polysubstance use. Concerns also exist about vaping being used for harmful substances.
More herbal cannabis is trafficked from Canada and the US due to North American overproduction and lower prices, often via shipping containers or postal service. Cannabis is Europe's most used drug, with 25 million users last year. Cocaine is the most reported substance in emergency admissions; crack cocaine is a growing concern in several cities. While cocaine seizure volume decreased, the number of seizures rose to 97,000, indicating traffickers use smaller, fragmented consignments. Cocaine is also produced in Europe, with 43 factories dismantled in six countries in 2024.
Opioids cause over 7,600 drug-induced deaths annually in Europe, mainly from polysubstance use involving heroin and synthetic opioids. Europe’s heroin market remains resilient, buffered by tactical supply management of Afghanistan’s stockpiles despite the 2022 Taliban ban. Pakistan and Myanmar are emerging as significant opium sources. New synthetic opioids, including nitazenes and orphines, are a concern; 95 have been detected since 2009. China’s 2025 nitazene ban may have redirected the market to orphines, with 18 deaths linked to them between June 2024 and January 2026. Fentanyl caused over 100 deaths in Bulgaria from 2024-2025.
Ketamine, an essential medicine, is increasingly misused as a psychoactive substance, particularly among youth and in nightlife settings. Health risks include acute poisoning and severe bladder damage. Most illicit ketamine in Europe originates from legitimate pharmaceutical production in India, legally imported via Germany before diversion.