Europol


 

Drug trafficking is one of the EMPACT priorities, Europol’s priority crime areas, under the 2018–2021 EU Policy Cycle.

With a retail market estimated to be worth at least EUR 5.7 billion annually, cocaine is Europe’s most commonly used stimulant. Use of the drug may be declining slightly, but availability may be increasing.
 

Production

Coca-bush cultivation appears to be on the rise in the only countries it is produced in: Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. Exactly how much cocaine is produced is not clear, with varying and sometimes mutually contradictory estimates being produced.

Trafficking routes and methods

Cocaine is trafficked to Europe by both sea and air, primarily via Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela. The Caribbean and West Africa are important transit areas, while Central America appears to be becoming more important. Cocaine is also trafficked via routes for other drugs, such as cannabis via North Africa and heroin through East Africa. Cocaine is smuggled into Europe in many ways, from air couriers and express packages to private yachts and jets. The use of maritime containers is of increasing concern. A huge array of concealment methods is used, including those that require chemical extraction.

Organised crime

The range of criminal organisations involved in cocaine trafficking is wider than ever. Within Europe, there is significant cooperation among OGCs. Outside Europe, West African groups are particularly active in transporting cocaine to Europe with air couriers. Other trafficking groups, such as those from the Balkans, are reportedly emerging as an additional significant threat.

Number of items found: 84
Type
Target group
  • 24Jan2020

    16 members of the United Tribuns Nomads street gang arrested in Spain

    News/Press release
  • 23Jan2020

    Cocaine caravans immobilised: 12 arrests in big bust against drug traffickers in the Canary Islands

    News/Press release
  • 16Dec2019

    Dismantling an international cocaine trafficking network

    News/Press release
  • 11Dec2019

    Illicit drugs in the EU: the situation is expanding in scale and complexity

    News/Press release
  • 26Nov2019

    2019 EU DRUG MARKETS REPORT FROM THE EMCDDA AND EUROPOL

    News/Press release
  • 22Nov2019

    Coming soon: 2019 EU Drug Markets Report from Europol and the EMCDDA

    News/Press release
  • 15Nov2019

    1 176 kg of cocaine hidden in bananas seized in Italy

    News/Press release
  • 06Nov2019

    Over 5 tonnes of smuggled glass eels seized in Europe this year

    News/Press release
  • 11Oct2019

    Boat raided from Brazil to Europe hiding over half a tonne of cocaine and narcotic substances

    News/Press release
  • 30Sep2019

    4 tonnes of cocaine and €2 million in cash seized by Spanish authorities

    News/Press release
  • 23Sep2019

    Law Enforcement explained in 120 Seconds

    News/Press release
  • 25Jul2019

    Balkan cartel trafficking cocaine around the globe in private planes busted

    News/Press release

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Source URL: https://www.europol.europa.eu/crime-areas-and-trends/crime-areas/drug-trafficking/cocaine-and-heroin?page=1