The vast majority of drug labs dismantled in Europe in 2023 were located in the Netherlands. This is according to the annual report of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) released on Thursday. For example, 32 of the 36 dismantled MDMA labs were located in the Netherlands.
According to the report, the Netherlands is a key player in the European MDMA trade. Europe, in turn, is an important player in the global MDMA market.
The Netherlands also leads in the number of drug lab locations for other drugs. In 2023, 93 labs were dismantled where speed (amphetamine) was produced. Almost half of them (38) were in the Netherlands.
Of the fourteen dismantled heroin labs in Europe, ten were located in the Netherlands. Regarding the number of dismantled meth labs (methamphetamine), the Netherlands ranks second with 29 locations.
According to EUDA, a number of large seizures of chemical substances used for the production of speed, meth, and MDMA were made in the Netherlands and Hungary. In addition, the Netherlands accounted for almost three-quarters of all ketamine seized.
Record amount of cocaine intercepted again, concerns about painkillers
In 2023, a record amount of cocaine was intercepted in Europe for the seventh consecutive year. There were 95,000 cocaine finds, accounting for 419 tons of cocaine. After Belgium and Spain, most of the cocaine was found in the Netherlands.
The report also warns of the increased use of nitazenes in Europe. The dangerous painkillers contributed significantly to the number of fatal overdoses in Estonia and Latvia. The painkillers are a hundred times stronger than heroin.
There are no specific figures for the Netherlands regarding nitazenes for 2023. Police reported making the first seizures here last year.
Large increase in designer drugs
The EUDA report also expresses concerns about the increased use of designer drugs, such as 4-MMC or 3-CMC. The total seizure in Europe of these drugs was 4.5 tons in 2021. Two years later, that had increased to 37 tons.
A large part of the designer drugs was traded via the Netherlands. Eight production locations were also dismantled here, putting the Netherlands behind leader Poland (forty).
The EUDA sees fewer and fewer new designer drugs being added each year, but overall use is increasing.