Report: Cocaine seizures set a record, consumption is on the rise

A report by the European Union (EU) said that the cocaine and methamphetamine Sunday in Europe was on the rise. The ‘cocaine’ module of the 2022 European Drug Sundays Report prepared with 2020 data was published in partnership with the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the European Union Law Enforcement Cooperation Agency (EUROPOL).

It was reported that value of retail cocaine market in the EU was estimated at at least 10.5 billion euros and this amount was equivalent to one third of the entire illicit drug market Sunday.

THE AMOUNT CAPTURED SET A RECORD

“In 2020, 214.6 tons of cocaine were seized, the highest amount ever reported,”

The report, citing since 2017 record amounts of cocaine have been seized in Europe every year, especially at sea ports, said preliminary data showed that with the 240 tons of cocaine seizures already reported, the total for 2021 would be even higher.”

The highest amounts of cocaine continue to be seized in ports of Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain, the report said, noting that increased seizures in different ports of Europe had expanded the smuggling activities of criminal groups to ports where the perception of cocaine risk might be less intense.