Drug trafficking constitutes a major threat to Europe’s security, according to the 2026 European Drug Report 2026 issued Tuesday with the latest evidence on the state of the drugs situation in Europe.
Presenting the report, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and the European Commission said drugs are having an increasingly negative impact on European health and security as they have become more available, more diverse, and more potent – while organised drugs gangs resort to violence more frequently.
Based on data from 29 countries (EU-27, Norway and Türkiye), the report highlights that opioids, usually in combination with other substances, remain the leading cause of drug-induced deaths in Europe. The EUDA estimates that there were at least 7,600 overdose fatalities in the EU in 2024, mostly involving multiple substances. These drugs pose serious health dangers, especially novel substances with limited scientific and public understanding of the risks.
Illicit drugs, including cocaine and synthetic drugs as well as new psychoactive substances are widely available. New cannabis products continue to appear, while the variety of opioids and stimulants sold is on the rise.
At the same time, drug trafficking constitutes a major threat to the security in Europe. Organised crime networks are diversifying their trafficking routes and methods to evade detections, following intensified policing operations at major European ports. They exploit smaller ports, and are developing more sophisticated concealment methods.
The report highlights that the volume of cocaine intercepted in Europe decreased by more than 20% in 2024, down from 419 tonnes in 2023. However, the number of seizures rose to 97,000 (from 95,000 in 2023), suggesting that traffickers may be moving towards smaller, more fragmented shipments.
Drug-related intimidation and violence also remain a concern, including the exploitation and recruitment of vulnerable young people by criminal groups.
“The European Drug Report reveals the human cost of drug use, with the latest annual figures showing at least 7,600 overdose deaths”, said EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner: “We must pull out all the stops to prevent dangerous new products from flooding the market and use the full force of the law to strip illegal traffickers of their business model.”
The Commission says it has stepped up its support for the EU Member States to respond to these challenges with a new EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan against drug trafficking and new rules for monitoring and controlling drug precursors (2025). The Commission is also working with Member States, European Ports, industry associations and EU Agencies to counter drug trafficking in ports, in the context of the European Ports Alliance, and continues to work closely with partner countries to tackle drug production at its source and prevent trafficking routes from reaching the EU.
