About one third of all organised crime groups in the EU are involved in the production and/or distribution of illicit drugs. Criminal networks exploit the demand for drugs in the EU and generate huge profits, often trafficking different types of drugs. The value of the European opiates market is estimated at approximately EUR 12 billion. Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in the EU, followed by cocaine. Synthetic and narcotic drugs are big business and the EU is one of the largest and most valuable global markets for them.
The European Union is a major region for the illicit production of synthetic drugs, particularly amphetamine and ecstasy. Moreover, the last decade has seen an exponential increase in the production, trafficking and consumption of these drugs within the European Union. Each year around 60 to 90 large-scale production sites are identified, seized and dismantled.
In recent years an increasing number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) have been detected on the European market, with almost two new substances appearing every week. More than 450 NPS have been reported since 2005, many of them posing significant health threats to unsuspecting users who may consider them harmless, perhaps due to the fact they can be openly purchased online or from retail shops. The internet not only provides new ways to access customers and suppliers but also opportunities to enhance the efficiency and security of off-line criminal activities. A small part of the deep web, known as the dark web or Darknet, has been intentionally hidden and is accessible only using special web browsers. Much attention has been given to the online marketplaces found on the deep web. The surface web also plays an important role, particularly with respect to sales of new psychoactive substances.
As the primary source of heroin present in the EU, Afghanistan produced an estimated 4800 tonnes of opium in 2016, representing a 43% increase compared to 3300 tonnes in 2015. The EU heroin market is estimated to be worth over EUR 6.8 billion.