European drug lords shipping MDMA to Latin America in exchange for cocaine, new report finds
European ganglords are smuggling ecstasy into Latin America in exchange for free cocaine, a report has found.
Dutch crime syndicates have seized on the growing market, transporting large shipments of the drug via postal services and couriers on commercial flights.
Seizure data reported to the World Customs Organization (WCO) found that between 2019 and 2022 alone, at least 1.2 tonnes of ecstasy, also known as MDMA, was trafficked from EU countries to Latin America.
Evidence is emerging that Brazilian organised crime groups such as the Primeiro Comando da Capital, a former prison gang and now Latin America's largest criminal network, are offering cocaine for smuggled ecstasy in barter deals.
The joint report from the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and Europol, the EU's law-enforcement wing, found that several such deals took place in 2020 between criminals from the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina and Europe.
Investigations from law enforcement agencies in June 2022 uncovered how Dutch criminals had attempted to hide an estimated 500,000 ecstasy tablets in mobile home units, vehicles and compressors destined for ports in Chile.
It marks a worrying development in the European drug trade, which has been dominated by cocaine shipments exported from Latin America.
The Netherlands is the manufacturing hub for ecstasy, which is produced in industrial-scale laboratories using unregulated chemicals sourced from China.
Europe accounted for nearly half (43 per cent) of the global quantity of MDMA seized by police between 2018 and 2022.
The European MDMA market is estimated to be worth at least £496 million (€594 million), corresponding to around 72.4 million tablets taken in the EU each year.
The price of ecstasy has remained stable over the past decade, allowing it to remain the drug of choice at nightclubs and music festivals, the report said.
So-called super strength variants of ecstasy have also emerged in recent years, with up to 170mg of MDMA contained in a single tablet.
Social media and encrypted messaging apps have accelerated the sale of drug cocktails known as 'tucibi' and ' pink cocaine ', which contain a combination of MDMA, ketamine and psychoactive substances.
Catherine De Bolle, Europol's executive director, said: 'Europe is a key player in the synthetic drugs market and a global supplier of MDMA, both producing and trafficking for domestic and international markets.
'Legal business structures are often exploited to obtain chemicals and equipment for drug production, which is characterised by continuous innovation.'
Alexis Goosdeel, EUDA's executive director, said: 'Understanding the evolving MDMA market is essential for developing effective responses.
'MDMA remains a popular drug in nightlife and music festival settings, so ecstasy tablets that contain high amounts of MDMA, or unexpected ingredients, pose serious risks.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Magaluf looks empty as Brits ‘shun hols hotspot because they are tired of being demonised' while resort cleans up image
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MAGALUF is looking unusually bare as Brits shunned the popular holiday spot after feeling "tired of being demonised". Dozens of beach sunbeds lay empty as the usual UK party-animals were nowhere to be seen - opting to spend their time in Benidorm instead. 9 Deck chairs lay empty in the Spanish resort Credit: Solarpix 9 Restaurants that were once filled with boozing Brits appeared bare Credit: Solarpix 9 Figures published last week showed Benidorm's leading visitors were Brits and its average hotel occupancy rate had reached almost 85 per cent in May. Meanwhile, pictures of the Spanish resort showed deserted beaches and empty restaurants - a steep contrast to what was once described as a "lawless party" hub. Deck chairs that would previously have been filled with boozing Brits sat empty, whilst Magaluf's once crowd-stricken streets appeared decidedly desolate. The barren resort is a positive change for many locals, who despaired at the "touristification" of their town. They're welcoming instead a new wave of tourists hailing from different European countries, which they hope will clean up the resort's image. Nightclub boss, Migue Perez-Masra, told local press that Playa de Palma, near the Majorcan capital, has seen a sharp increase in German tourists. 9 Once crowd-stricken streets now seemed visibly empty Credit: Solarpix 9 The barren resort is a positive change for many locals Credit: Solarpix 9 Magaluf was branded a lawless party resort Credit: Solarpix He claimed young Brits are turning their backs on Magaluf after feeling 'demonized" by locals. The area is now seeing more and more French and Italian visitors too. Attempts to clean up the resort's image come as Magaluf was branded a lawless party resort after a shocking sex video emerged in June 2014 showing a British tourist performing sex acts on 24 men in a bar. The 18-year-old at the centre of the viral footage was reportedly duped into performing the sex acts for what she thought was a free break that turned out to be a cocktail named 'Holiday'. At the time, Spanish politician Jose Ramon Bauza, branded Punta Ballena - Magaluf's strip - as '500 metres of shame'. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage The bar was ordered to close for a year whilst authorities cracked the whip on unruly behaviour. Fines of up to £50,000 were introduced for holidaymakers caught leaping off their hotel balconies, whilst limits were set on the amount of alcohol served at all-inclusive hotels. Further restrictions in Spanish party resorts were introduced last year. In parts of Majorca and Ibiza, tourists can be fined up to £1,300 for drinking on the streets and shops are now only allowed to sell alcohol at certain times. Britain's then-Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott urged holidaymakers in the Majorcan party resort to 'show responsibility' and remember they were "guests" in Spain. This Sunday anti-tourism protestors will stage another demonstration in the Majorcan capital Palma. The demo has been organised by activist organisation Menys Turisme, Mes Vida, with 60 groups already pledging to take part. Protestors from other cities including Barcelona and San Sebastian will also take to a streets as part of co-ordinated events. A Menys Turisme, Mes Vida spokesman said last week: 'We will demonstrate for the right to a decent life and to demand the brakes are put on the touristification of this island.' 9 Many locals lamented at the loss of their town to boozing Brits Credit: Solarpix 9 Residents said they're welcoming in a new stream of tourists from Europe Credit: Solarpix
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Former West Ham star Dimitri Payet has contract ripped up leaving him unemployed after shocking abuse claims
DIMITRI PAYET had his contract ripped up to leave him unemployed. It comes just weeks after shocking abuse claims against the ex-West Ham man. 4 Ex-West Ham man Dimitri Payet had his contract in Brazil terminated Credit: Getty 4 Ex-lover Larissa Ferrari made shocking abuse claims against the married footballer during their alleged affair Credit: Payet, 38, joined Brazilian side Vasco da Gama on a two-year contract in August 2023. However, the club announced the decision to cut the deal short. They wrote on social media: "Vasco da Gama announces that, in a friendly manner, it has reached an agreement to terminate the contract with midfielder Dimitri Payet early. "The club thanks the athlete for the professionalism, dedication and respect demonstrated throughout his time at Sao Januario, and wishes him success in his next challenges. "For Vasco, Payet played 77 matches, scored eight goals and contributed 16 assists. "Thank you, Payet. This is Vasco." Payet hit headlines in April when his ex-lover alleged he subjected her to "physical, moral, psychological and sexual violence" during a seven-month affair. The "lonely" married footballer was accused of forcing Larissa Ferrari to film degrading videos, SunSport revealed. Brazilian lawyer Ferrari, 28, also said the former French international Payet made her partake in a fake wedding and wear a ring to 'prove her love'. She claimed he made her drink her own urine and water from the toilet, and lick the floor - plus showed SunSport photos of her bruises. Premier League cult hero Dimitri Payet rolls back the years as he humiliates opponent with unique 360-nutmeg The mum-of-two said: 'He's a sick monster. I was scared for my life, and I'm still scared." Payet denied "physical and psychological violence" in a statement to the police in Brazil, adding that everything was consensual and proposed by his accuser. The playmaker has four children with his wife of nearly 20 years, Ludivine, who remained in France after he joined Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro in 2023. Before that, he had six-and-a-half years with Marseille, joining the French side for £25million following an impressive 18 months with West Ham. 4 Payet spent two years with Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment ‘killer' brands samurai sword ‘freaking sexy' before he ‘murdered boy, 14, in rampage'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the moment an alleged killer branded a samurai sword "freaking sexy" before he murdered a 14-year-old boy in a rampage, a court heard. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, ambushed Daniel Anjorin, 14, as he made his way to school in Hainault, East London. 7 Marcus Arduini Monzo filmed himself unboxing a samurai sword, jurors heard Credit: Central News 7 He then allegedly went on to kill Daniel Anjorin Credit: Central News Jurors heard Monzo also tried to kill female cop Yasim Mechem-Whitfield, Henry De Los Rios Polina, Sindy Arias and Donato Iwule in the horror. Police today released footage shown to the court of the so-called "mystic" unboxing a Katana sword he had bought online. The Spanish-Brazilian national can be heard saying "wow" as he explains the weapon was "handmade in Japan". Monzo can be seen standing on a black mat with a ginger cat he calls the "Wizard" by his side. He tells the camera: "This just came through… Ninja stuff. So I'm sort of obliged to do some ninja stuff with the Wizard." Monzo then brands the sword "freaking sexy" and exclaims "ooh" as he lunges around holding the weapon. The court heard the martial artist spent nearly £1,000 on swords in December 2023 before cancelling the order. He then bought two handmade Katana swords for £427.80 on February 21, 2024, with delivery coming through to his home in early April. Jurors heard Monzo killed and skinned his own cat at home before setting off on the rampage after believing he was in the "Hunger Games". He carried out the attack with "murderous intent" over a 20-minute period on April 30, it was said. The Old Bailey heard Donato was the first to be attacked when Monzo "deliberately" drove into him in his van. As he was knocked into a garden, Monzo allegedly got out the van and slashed his neck with the Samurai sword. 7 Monzo filmed the unboxing video on his iPhone Credit: PA 7 He called the sword 'freaking sexy' 7 Monzo could be seen practising his martial arts in the video Donato managed to escape as emergency crews were scrambled to the residential street. Meanwhile, Daniel was walking to school "minding his own business" when his life was "snuffed out in an instant". The court heard PC Mechem-Whitfield arrived at the scene of the horror and "bravely pursued" Monzo through alleyways after he tried to flee. The officer was "struck three times" and suffered significant injuries in the horror. Monzo then burst into a house to attack a couple in their bedroom as their child slept next to them, it was said. He shouted out 'do you believe in God?' about four times then began to attack Henry De Los Rios Polania with the sword before attempting to stab his wife. Jurors were told their lives were only spared because the youngster woke up and started to cry. Monzo was taken to hospital by police before going to Romford police station. NHS systems were checked and showed there were no documented mental health concerns or access to mental health services by Monzo. The court heard Monzo does not dispute he carried out the attacks. But the jury will have decide "why he did so and what his state of mind was" at the time. Prosecutor Tom Little KC said: "The prosecution case is that this is a clear case of murder and that it is also a clear case of four attempted murders. "We say that the defendant's conduct was brought about by self-induced intoxication in the form of drugs. "This, we say, led to a psychotic disorder but not one meeting the requirements to make out the partial defence to murder of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility." Monzo, of West Beckton, Newham, denies murder, four counts of attempted murder and one of wounding with intent. The trial continues. 7 Monzo is accused of injuring four others in the horror Credit: Central News
