The Sunday Mail
Europe is increasingly becoming a hub for production and trans-shipment of cocaine to other regions of the world, in addition to being a major consumption market, EU agencies said on Friday, warning also about the expanding methamphetamine industry.
After cannabis, cocaine is the most consumed drug in Europe, with millions of users and sales of around 10,5 billion euros (US$11,1 billion) in 2020, according to a joint EU report by law enforcement agency Europol and drugs agency EMCDDA.
The European market is growing, driven by higher production in South America and also by expanding capabilities to process the raw drug in Europe itself. It could grow even more with new types of smokable cocaine products being developed, the report said, warning of higher health risks.
“More production is also now taking place inside Europe, indicating changes in the region’s role in the international cocaine trade,” the report said. – Reuters
