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© Reuters
Cocaine is more available in Europe than ever, and seized shipments reached record levels in 2018, according to the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), published today, cited by AFP. “BTA announced. The report is based on 2018 data, which is the most up-to-date available.
In 2018, cocaine shipments seized reached a record 181 tons, 40 tons more than in 2017, when the previous record was set. The number of individual seizures, 110,000, is also unprecedented.
The largest amounts of cocaine were seized in Belgium (53 tons), Spain (48 tons) and the Netherlands (40 tons). The ports of these three countries are the historic maritime entry points for cocaine into Europe.
Furthermore, the purity level of cocaine has increased in the last ten years and its retail price has not changed significantly.
In 2018, 4.3 million Europeans used cocaine, making it the second most popular drug on the Old Continent after cannabis.
The report also draws attention to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the drug market. While quarantine measures across most of Europe have reduced air travel, maritime traffic remains at pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, consumers and sellers have focused on online sales on the darknet, social media platforms, and home delivery companies.
