Thus concludes this year’s report by the EU ’s European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction ( EMCDDA ). Police, aided by surveillance of messaging apps (such as the Trojan Shield sting announced this week), are confiscating more cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and crystal meth than ever. After opioids it is the drug most likely to send users to hospital, present in 22% of overdoses. And whereas ecstasy and amphetamines are typically manufactured in Europe, cocaine must be imported. As the cocaine industry shows, illegal networks that spring up to supply one drug are likely to end up being used for others.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 10, 2021 14:37 UTC