BRUSSELS, Belgium – Over the past decade, Europe has witnessed an alarming surge in cocaine use, transforming the continent into a major hub for the drug trade.
Originating from the jungles of South America, record amounts of cocaine are being transported, sold, and consumed across Europe, reshaping international drug trafficking and leaving a wake of addiction, organized crime, and human rights abuses.
The increasing demand for cocaine in Europe, driven by substantial profits, has significantly altered the landscape of global drug trafficking.
The main producers—Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia—account for 61p.c, 26p.c, and 13p.c of global cocaine production, respectively.
To evade law enforcement, traffickers have developed complex and varied routes to transport the drug.
Cocaine travels by road to alternative seaports, through inland waterways like the Paraná River, and by sea from virtually every country in Central and South America.
Authorities across Europe have seized unprecedented amounts of cocaine in recent years.
In 2022 alone, EU member states confiscated over 323 tonnes of the drug, the highest volume ever recorded.
The UK seized more than 37 tonnes between 2022 and 2023. Major entry points include ports in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain, with Antwerp seizing 116 tonnes in 2023, a dramatic increase from 40 tonnes in 2017.
Cocaine Use and Its Impact
Cocaine use in Europe has skyrocketed, with Europeans accounting for 21p.c of global users in 2021.
The UK has the second-highest rate of cocaine use worldwide, with 2.7% of adults consuming the drug.
In the EU, nearly 2.5 million young adults used cocaine last year. This surge has been accompanied by increased cocaine residues found in wastewater across the continent, indicating widespread and rising consumption.
The European cocaine market is valued between €7.6 billion and €10.5 billion.
Despite falling prices due to increased purity, the street value of cocaine remains high, making it a lucrative trade. A kilo of cocaine bought for $1,000 in Colombia can sell for up to €70,000 in Europe.
The drug trade’s repercussions extend beyond mere economics. The infiltration of trafficking networks has escalated violence and crime in source and transit countries like Ecuador, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago.
European cities are also experiencing increased violence, corruption, and exploitation.
Amsterdam’s mayor has warned of the Netherlands potentially becoming a “narco-state” due to pervasive criminal activity linked to cocaine trafficking.
Cocaine’s addictive nature and increasing availability have devastating health and social consequences.
The drug was involved in about 20p.c of overdose deaths in Europe in 2021 and was the second-most reported drug in emergency hospital admissions in 2023.
The proliferation of cocaine sales through social media and encrypted messaging services has exacerbated the issue, affecting users, their families, and communities.
