Der Drogenmarkt in der EU (Infografik)
Der Drogenmarkt in der EU (Infografik)
Opioids: a new drug threat for Europe
The increase in the manufacture and use of highly-addictive synthetic opioids is a global challenge. The EU is taking action to curb this global affliction on society.
What are opioids?
Opioids are a class of drugs that includes both legal prescription medications, often used for pain management, and illicit substances. Opioids are derived from the opium poppy plant (natural opioids) or synthesised in laboratories (synthetic opioids).
A slight decline in the use of non-synthetic opioids
- heroin
- morphine
- opium
A rise in the use of synthetic opioids
- benzimidazole opioids (nitazenes)
- buprenorphine
- fentanyl derivatives
- oxycodone prescriptions
- methadone
- tramadol
The EU's retail heroin market is estimated to be worth at least EUR 5.2 billion annually. The quantity of heroin seized by EU member states more than doubled in 2021 to 9.5 tonnes — the highest amount in 20 years — with large individual consignments detected at seaports.
There are an estimated 1 million high-risk opioid users in the EU. Heroin is the most commonly used illicit opioid, however, other synthetic opioids are also available on the illicit market.
While fentanyl and its derivatives are still relatively niche in most places, they are increasingly available on the EU opioid market.
Opioids, usually in combination with other drugs, are still the substances most commonly implicated in drug-induced deaths. Opioids, including heroin and its metabolites, together with other substances, were estimated to be present in three quarters (74%) of at least 6 166 fatal overdoses reported in the EU in 2021. Even a small quantity can cause an overdose.
The rise of synthetic opioid use
Concern has grown in the EU over the use of synthetic opioids, a crisis that has engulfed the United States over the last 10 years. Fentanyl has become the primary cause of opioid-related overdose death in North America. Europe has witnessed a steady rise in prescription opioid use in the last decade, primarily driven by increased numbers of:
- tramadol
- fentanyl
- oxycodone prescriptions
The European opioid landscape is becoming increasingly intricate, marked by the presence of diverted medication, internationally controlled substances, and emerging highly-potent synthetic opioids.
From 2009 to 2022, a total of 74 new opioids have emerged in the European drug market. The EU early warning system officially reported one additional new synthetic opioid in 2022 and three more in the first four months of 2023.
In the last five years, there has been a notable shift in the types of opioids reported to the EU early warning system on new psychoactive substances. Highly potent benzimidazole opioids, specifically nitazene, have taken precedence over fentanyl derivatives.
New synthetic opioids entering the market each year
The bar chart below shows the shift in types of synthetic opioids reported via the EU early warning system during the period 2009 to 2022.
74 new opioids have emerged in the European drug market.
Benzimidazole opioids, specifically nitazene, have taken precedence over fentanyl derivatives.
Opioid trafficking and illicit markets
Indicative heroin trafficking routes
- Balkan route – historically considered to be the main established trafficking route to Europe from Afghanistan via Iran and Pakistan to Türkiye and then through Bulgaria, Greece or the Mediterranean Sea
- Southern route – through Iran or Pakistan, either transiting the East African coast or the Arabian Peninsula, towards Europe
- Caucasus route – from Afghanistan through Iran to Armenia or Azerbaijan to Georgia and then through the Black Sea to Bulgaria, Romania or Ukraine
- Northern route – from Afghanistan to Tajikistan and then through Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan, on to Russia and Ukraine and then to EU Member States (particularly the Baltic countries and Poland)
Since late 2021, Europe has witnessed two pivotal political and security shifts which have had consequences on opiate production and trafficking:
- the collapse of the Afghan government and the subsequent takeover by the Taliban in August 2021, coupled with the ban on opium cultivation announced in April 2022, impacted opiate production in Afghanistan, which has in turn impacted heroin availability on the EU market.
- Russia's unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal military aggression against Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has disrupted heroin trafficking routes through Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Black Sea, affecting the flow of heroin to the EU market.
The potential shortage of supply as a result of these two events may incentivise criminal elements to turn to the production of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which is a grim prospect for people with substance use disorders who may resort to these alternatives in the absence of heroin.
EU action addressing drug threats
The EU's main objective is to identify and target the criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, including the trafficking and distribution of cannabis, cocaine, heroin, synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances.
European multi-disciplinary platform against criminal threats (EMPACT) is a multidisciplinary, intelligence-led and evidence-based EU initiative which aims to tackle many criminal activities including drug trafficking.
Counter the illicit production and cultivation of drugs
The EU and its member states are also implementing the EU drugs strategy and action plan 2021-2025, which aims to reduce the supply of and demand for drugs and addressing drug-related harm.
In July 2023, the Council approved the Commission’s participation on behalf of the EU in the US-led global coalition to address synthetic drugs threats, which aims to bring global attention to the need to address the public health and security threats posed by synthetic drugs.
Safeguarding ports against drug trafficking
Ports play a critical role in EU trade, handling 75% of its external trade volumes and 31% of internal trade volumes. Ports have become a prime target for drug smuggling and exploitation by dangerous criminal networks.
Supply of heroin
Significant volumes of heroin are entering the EU through a number of entry points, with adaptable and fluid trafficking routes. Criminal networks are flexible, combining trafficking routes and transferring heroin consignments between different modes of transport at transhipment points.
Examples of large maritime heroin seizures in the EU (2019-2022)
Hover or click on the arrows in the flow map below to reveal the amount of heroin seized and the routes.
Supply of synthetic opioids
The illicit market for synthetic opioids in the EU is fuelled by diverted medicinal opioids, originally intended for therapeutic use, and a wide array of illicitly-manufactured synthetic opioids.
The illicit production of synthetic opioids in Europe is still rare. These substances are manufactured outside the EU and infiltrate the European markets via key logistics hubs. It is particularly challenging to detect synthetic opioids since they may be present in minuscule amounts, which may evade routine analytical methods employed by forensic laboratories.
The European ports alliance public-private partnership
In January 2024, under the Belgian presidency, the European ports alliance public-private partnership was launched. The aim is to unite key stakeholders in devising strategies to safeguard ports against drug trafficking and criminal infiltration, as part of the EU roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime.
Adopted by the Commission in October 2023, the roadmap sets out 17 concrete and targeted actions in 4 priority areas. The Belgian presidency is prioritising 10 actions during its term and is working on their implementation. These include amongst others:
tackling large-scale drug-related organised crime groups using logistic hubs and, more specifically, large ports
setting up a network of prosecutors specialised in the fight against drug trafficking within the Eurojust structure
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Letzte Überprüfung: 17 Mai 2024