Amphetamine-type stimulants in the European Union 1998-2007. Europol contribution to the Expert Consultations for the UNGASS assessment

Drug matters appear high on the political agenda of the European Union. In the last decade, two successive European Union Drug Strategies and their related Action Plans were endorsed and implemented. In the area of synthetic drugs, a specific Action Plan was endorsed and legal instruments were developed to monitor and act against new synthetic drugs. [...] After a continuous rise in the 1990s, the global market of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) has stabilised at a high-level. Annual global ATS production is estimated at 480 tons, the far majority being methamphetamine produced in Asia and North America. Any stabilisation may be a reflection of various issues including improved international law enforcement co-operation, enhanced precursor and chemical control, increased awareness of industry on the potential diversion of chemicals and equipment, regular seizures of major illicit production sites and demand factors such as market saturation or preference for other types of drugs. Despite several political and law enforcement initiatives to combat production and trafficking of synthetic drugs, the past decade has not seen any shortage of these substances on the consumer markets in the European Union. The steady decline of street-level prices suggests a stable level of supply or even a saturation of the consumer market rather than a substantial reduction of availability. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, in many European countries the second most commonly used illegal substance, after cannabis, is some form of synthetically produced drug. According to the UNODC, the globalisation of illicit production, trafficking and consumption of drugs has resulted in a gradual diminishing of the distinction between producer and consumer countries. The abuse of various types of drugs, previously limited to some regions, has become prevalent worldwide. This global assessment to a large extent reflects the situation in the European Union. The worldwide demand for MDMA, commonly referred to as ecstasy, has lead to exportation of the drug from the European Union to markets in Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, the United States and Australia. The last decade has seen a steady increase in synthetic drug production in the European Union. Member States consistently seize synthetic drug production facilities, with most high-capacity sites being in the Netherlands and to a lesser extent Belgium, with production of amphetamine in Poland at a comparative mid-level. Related criminal networks remain very active as the synthetic drug market is one of the most lucrative markets, despite decreasing wholesale and retail prices. This is aided by relatively small capital investment, basic manufacturing methodology, low costs and availability of chemicals and equipment plus ever-increasing production capacities. (Extract)