Europe is facing a cocaine crisis that is progressively getting wider and deeper, a development driven by unprecedented availability, record-breaking global production, and a visible rise in drug-related violence across the continent. Cocaine has become easier to obtain than ever before, blurring the line between illicit markets and everyday life. In major cities such as Berlin, Madrid, Vienna, and Amsterdam, police forces report that “drug taxis” deliver cocaine directly to homes or clubs within minutes of a message, mimicking legal food delivery services. In simple words, obtaining a dose has become as easy as ordering a pizza. In parts of East Germany, people describe being able to acquire hard drugs in under five minutes simply by walking into a nightclub. This level of accessibility has contributed to the normalization of cocaine use, particularly among young adults, with surveys estimating that nearly 2.7 million Europeans aged 15 to 34 use the drug.

The crisis is intensified by a massive surge in supply from South America. Cocaine production in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia has reached historic highs. This flood of cocaine has pushed average purity levels in Europe up by around 34% over the past decade, increasing both the appeal of the drug and the risk of fatal overdoses, as users have less margin for error when dosing. European ports are struggling to cope with what officials describe as an avalanche of illegal drugs. Most cocaine enters the EU hidden aboard large cargo ships, frequently concealed in banana crates; with roughly 200 million banana boxes imported annually, customs officers face what could be called a “needle in a haystack” problem.

The influx of cocaine into Europe has triggered an unprecedented wave of drug-related violence, as criminal gangs increasingly use brutal tactics once primarily seen in Latin American. This escalation is driven by the fact that cocaine is pretty much the most profitable substance in the entire world, creating high stakes for those involved in its trade.

The targeted assassination of Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries in July 2021 serves as a grim example of this trend. The journalist was shot five times, while investigating a group known as the Mochro Mafia. His death followed the murders of a key witness’s brother and lawyer in the same trial, illustrating the extreme lengths to which these organizations go to protect their interests. Beyond assassinations, the brutality has extended to the discovery of a makeshift prison and a soundproof torture chamber hidden inside shipping containers, used for kidnappings and blackmail.

This systemic violence is supported by a complex global network of cooperation. Following the dismantling of large Colombian cartels in the 1990s, Mexican syndicates like the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) have stepped in to dominate the trade. These groups find it increasingly easier to import the drug into Europe compared to other regions, leading them to form strategic alliances with established European networks. For international distribution and local retail, these Mexican cartels partner with notorious organizations such as Italy’s ’Ndrangheta, the Albanian mafia, and even Chinese triads. Together, they manage an avalanche of illegal drugs that enters the continent through major maritime gateways like Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg.

At the core of this crisis lies a cocaine market that is described as the most profitable substance in the world. In South America, producing a gram of cocaine costs between €1 and €3, while in most European countries that same gram sells for €60 to €80, and up to €140 in Finland. In some regions, such as Luxembourg, prices can drop as low as €20 per gram, reflecting local competition and supply density. These enormous profit margins are divided among smugglers, middlemen, and street-level dealers, and are often increased further by cutting cocaine with substances such as caffeine, milk sugar, or levamisole, a livestock medication that poses additional health risks. The global supply chain behind this market is highly structured. Coca leaves are cultivated primarily in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, where the plants are resilient, difficult to eradicate, and can be harvested up to seven times a year, making them more profitable for farmers than legal crops. The leaves are processed using cheap chemicals, including gasoline, fertilizer, and sulfuric acid, to extract the active compounds and convert them into cocaine paste or powder suitable for transport.

Cocaine’s widespread appeal is closely tied to how it acts on the brain. The drug hijacks the brain’s reward system by flooding it with dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for motivation and pleasure. While natural rewards may increase dopamine levels by around 80%, snorting cocaine can raise them by 200% to 400%, depending on purity. Most users consume the drug by snorting it through rolled-up banknotes or small tubes, allowing it to pass through the nasal mucous membrane and reach the brain within minutes. Users describe an immediate kick in which sensations intensify, mood rises sharply, and they feel more confident, attractive, and physically powerful.

This high places significant strain on the body. Cocaine causes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, breathing speed, and body temperature, putting users at risk of heart attacks or strokes even at relatively low doses. Peak euphoria typically occurs within 15 minutes of use and fades after about an hour, which often leads users to repeatedly top up throughout the night to maintain the feeling and avoid the crash. The effects can vary by individual. For people with ADHD, cocaine can have a paradoxical calming effect, helping them focus by stimulating underactive areas of the brain. When mixed with alcohol, however, the body produces cocaethylene, a substance that lasts longer than cocaine alone and can increase the risk of fatal overdose by up to 25 times. Over time, repeated dopamine surges reduce the drug’s pleasurable effects and are linked to increased aggression, narcissism, and antisocial behavior.

Cocaine users in Europe now come from all walks of life, reflecting the drug’s shift from a niche luxury drug to a normalized presence in clubs, workplaces, and private homes. Surveys suggest that more than 1.2% of Europeans aged 15 to 64 use cocaine at least once a year, rising to nearly 3% among those aged 15 to 34, with men using the drug two to three times more frequently than women. Sociologists identify four broad groups of users based on motivation and context. The largest group consists of recreational users, who take cocaine at parties or on weekends to relieve stress, boost confidence, and stay awake longer. Many combine it with alcohol to sustain heavy drinking, often unaware that this produces cocaethylene and sharply increases the risk of sudden death. Another group uses cocaine primarily as a social icebreaker. These users, often shy or introverted, rely on the drug to lower inhibitions and manage repetitive social interactions, though frequent use can lead to antisocial behavior over time. A third group includes self-medicators, particularly people with ADHD or depression, who use cocaine as a form of unofficial treatment. While the drug may temporarily improve focus or mood, the comedown is often associated with deeper depression and increased suicidal thoughts. Finally, performance-driven users rely on cocaine to cope with demanding work environments. Although the drug does not actually improve performance, it provides concentration. This group includes high-earning professionals working through the night, as well as workers in sectors such as gastronomy and in healthcare or heavy industry, including nurses.

Together, these trends illustrate how Europe’s cocaine crisis is no longer confined to the margins but has become a structural feature of contemporary social and economic life.

A cura di Ilaria Castelli