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HEALTH-VIRUS-EU-DRUGS
Pandemic fails to halt drug flows, record cocaine hauls: EU agency
PARIS, Sept 22, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Record seizures of cocaine indicate that
the drug is more available than ever in Europe, and there is little sign that
the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted smugglers and dealers, the EU
narcotics agency said Tuesday.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction’s annual
report also noted large seizures of heroin as well as a scaling up of
synthetic drug production.
During the Covid-19 outbreak, organised crime groups had “quickly adapted
their modi operandi” to keep up the cultivation, smuggling and sale of drugs.
“There are fears that innovative drug distribution models developed during
lockdown, along with the economic impact of the pandemic on vulnerable
communities, will add to the challenges already posed by an abundant supply
of drugs,” the agency said.
Increased seizures of large quantities of cocaine, cannabis resin and
heroin — transported by sea — raised concerns that organised crime was
infiltrating legitimate supply chains, shipping routes and large ports.
Cocaine purity has increased and cocaine seizures were at an all-time high
of 181 tonnes in 2018, the year for which data is examined in the 2020
report, some 40 tonnes more than in 2017.
“Indicators point to high availability of cocaine on the European market
and signs of growth in countries where it was previously uncommon,” the
report said.
– Synthetics on the rise –
The volume of heroin seized in the EU nearly doubled from 2017 to 2018,
the report added.
While street dealing had been affected by restrictions during the height
of the pandemic, it said consumers and dealers had been turning to online
“darknet” markets, social media and home delivery.
Smuggling by plane declined, but trafficking by ship “continued at pre-
pandemic levels,” it said.
Seizures and intelligence data did not suggest “any immediate major
disruption” to drug trafficking activities using methods such as concealing
drugs in shipping containers.
Synthetic drug production and cannabis cultivation in Europe also “did not
appear to be seriously affected”.
The report warned that “the events of 2020 are likely to have a long-term
impact on the future challenges arising in the drugs area”.
During the pandemic there were signs of “declining interest in substances
like MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy) and cocaine that are commonly used in
social settings”.
But there were also reports of a greater use of more novel substances such
as the psychoactive drug benzodiazepines, “possibly driven in part by
shortages of more established drugs”.
“We must be concerned that… as the economic repercussions of the crisis
take effect, some in our communities may become more vulnerable to drug
problems,” agency director Alexis Goosdeel said.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1532 hrs