Cocaine Surge: Strait of Gibraltar Emerges as Europe’s New Drug Gateway

The geographical location of the strait makes it an essential corridor between West Africa and Europe. The drugs cross the Sahel and North Africa, particularly Morocco, before reaching the Andalusian coast, a transit and distribution point. According to the latest World Drug Report published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), global cocaine production reached 3,708 tons in 2023, an increase of 34% compared to 2022. A significant portion of this production comes directly from the Americas. But a non-negligible quantity also passes through the Canary Islands, Morocco, and Algeria to reach Andalusia via the Strait of Gibraltar, reports El Debate.

For the fifth consecutive year, drug seizures in Western and Central Europe have exceeded those in North America, the report notes, highlighting an unprecedented expansion of drug trafficking. Spain and the Netherlands are at the forefront of transit or final destination countries for drug shipments. "This is reflected both in the increase in seizures and in the increase in consumption, according to the analysis of wastewater from European cities," the report states, also revealing that the number of drug users continues to grow. In 2023, some 316 million people, or 6% of the global population aged 15 to 65, used drugs. The number of cocaine users has increased in ten years, from 17 million in 2013 to 25 million in 2023.

Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC, warns of a "new era of global instability," stating that "criminal groups engaged in drug trafficking continue to adapt, exploiting crises and targeting the most vulnerable populations," such as those in the Campo de Gibraltar. The official stressed the need to "address the root causes of trafficking at all stages of the supply chain." According to the report, drug trafficking represents hundreds of billions of euros per year and remains a significant source of profit for organized crime. Criminal networks are competing in technology, diversifying routes, and exploring new forms of distribution.

The UNODC also warns of the social, health, and environmental impacts of this trafficking, noting that drug use has serious health consequences. Nearly 500,000 overdose deaths were recorded in 2021. In addition, there are environmental damages caused by the cultivation, production, and manufacture of synthetic drugs, according to the report.