Drug trafficking in the European Union reaches ‘extreme violence’ and corruption makes business easier

Corruption is fueling drug trafficking in the European Union and undermining the rule of law, according to a report published this Thursday, which warns that the “extreme violence” associated with the business is putting pressure on local communities and society.

This is the main conclusion of a joint report by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and EUROPOL (the European Union Agency for Police Cooperation), published this Thursday in The Hague entitled “Drug Markets: Key Findings for Policy and Drug Addiction.” Exercise.

The document estimates that the European Union (EU) retail drug market is worth more than €30 billion a year, making it an important source of income for organized crime.

Europe occupies a central position in the supply and trafficking of drugs, as evidenced by the large-scale production of cannabis and synthetic drugs in the EU, as well as the huge volumes of cocaine coming from Latin America, according to a joint document by EUROPOL and the European Medicines Agency. , based in Lisbon.

In the paper’s conclusion, these researchers state that “the EU drug market also intersects with other areas of crime such as firearms trafficking and money laundering.”

“Some EU member states are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of drug market-related violence, including murder, torture, kidnapping and intimidation,” they say, adding that such situations “often occur among criminal networks, although innocent people also become victims, which increases the feeling of social insecurity.”

The study highlights that corruption is also “an important threat in the EU” as criminal networks depend on it at all levels of the drug market to facilitate their activities and reduce risks.”

According to experts from both agencies, “corruption has a corrosive effect on the fabric of society, threatening governance, security and the rule of law.”

An additional concern expressed in the document is that criminal networks operating in the EU drug market are highly adaptable, innovative and resilient to global crises, instability and significant political and economic changes.

“Recent examples of these disruptions include the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan,” they note, explaining that criminal networks have adapted in response, changing and diversifying trafficking routes. his methods.

In the document, which guides member states in developing policies to combat the phenomenon, experts highlight the urgent need to “face current threats and build resilience.”

The new report highlights key areas for action at EU and Member State level to combat the current threats posed by the illicit drugs market.

These proposals include “improving monitoring and analysis of drug market-related violence, giving greater priority to operational efforts to dismantle criminal networks, and increasing international cooperation.” It also emphasizes increasing human and financial resources for operational and strategic responses and strengthening policy, public health and security measures.

This latest report, according to its experts, offers “a strategic and general summary of the drugs market in the European Union, based on a clear understanding of the current drug situation and emerging threats.”