Europe’s drug gangs are increasingly using young people not only to traffic drugs but also to carry out acts of violence.
The 2026 annual report by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), which was published on Tuesday, says young people, particularly those from deprived neighbourhoods, are being recruited by the mafia to carry out intimidation, assaults and even to act as contract killers. Criminal masterminds provide the planning, weapons, money and transport.
The agency, based in Portugal’s capital Lisbon, believes this development is part of an increasingly complex and dangerous drugs market, where new and often highly potent substances are constantly emerging.
Last year, 50 new psychoactive substances were registered in Europe for the first time. In total, the agency now monitors 1,050 such substances.
"Drug markets are evolving at speed, with the variety of substances on Europe’s streets becoming ever more unpredictable," warned the agency's Executive Director Lorraine Nolan. "This raises the risk: People may be taking high-potency drugs, often without knowing it."
Experts are particularly concerned about new synthetic opioids, which can be life-threatening even in small quantities and remain the most common cause of drug-related deaths in Europe. The EUDA estimates that in 2024 there were at least 7,600 deaths from overdose, in the majority of which multiple substances were involved.
With around 25 million users per year, cannabis remains the most widely used drug in Europe. In addition, the authorities are observing a rise in the particularly problematic use of crack.
Smugglers are turning to drones, speedboats and even semi-submersibles to transport drugs from South America or Africa to Europe.
The EUDA’s report is based on data from the 27 EU member states as well as Norway and Turkey.
