A news release from Europol on 5 May advised that the report is an in-depth look at the cocaine and methamphetamine markets, the agencies point to increased production activities in Europe and how collaboration between criminal groups worldwide is creating new security threats and expanding the market. Analysis shows that the European cocaine market is expanding, driven by unprecedented levels of trafficking leading to historically high availability. Cocaine is the second most commonly consumed illicit drug in the EU after cannabis. Methamphetamine — the most widely consumed synthetic stimulant drug in the world — still plays a relatively small role in Europe’s drug market. It says that while established criminal networks often manage their own activities, others now outsource a range of services along the supply chain – and the analyses show how logistical support has become a parallel business. Violence and corruption, long seen in traditional drug-producing countries, are increasingly seen within the EU. A prominent cross-cutting theme is the environmental impact of drug production. Despite the unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, cocaine and methamphetamine markets in the EU have continued to evolve.
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