Latest news with #EUDA
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Mexican cartels now producing drugs in Europe in 'concerning' global expansion
The European Union Drug Agency (EUDA) and Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) have both warned that Mexican cartels are expanding European operations Mexican cartels - including one established by El Chapo - are expanding operations in Europe, establishing drug production bases that allow them to maintain a constant presence on the continent. Authorities have warned that the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartels have cemented a foothold in European nations as part of a new strategy. The "Mexican method", the European Union Drug Agency (EUDA) reports, has seen the groups establish clandestine laboratories and even gain a hand in the training of local chefs. The agency has found their operations becoming more commonplace due to the growing demand for synthetic drugs. READ MORE: Horror as 400 human corpses found inside house of horrors on US-Mexico border In its 2025 report, the organisation warned drug production in Europe has been primarily focused on amphetamine, methamphetamine, synthetic cathinones, MDMA, cocaine and heroin. It identified drug production centres in Belgium, the Netherlands and Poland, and drug developers seem to be extending their roots in the nations. The EUDA flagged a "significant concern" in the report that cocaine production in Europe especially appeared "to be larger and more sophisticated than was previously thought". Investigators also found that production in Europe has been reliant on South American ingredients trafficked to the continent for processing. The report states: "Overall, based on the information available, it appears that large amounts of cocaine hydrochloride are now processed in Europe, mostly in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain, from intermediary products (coca paste and cocaine base) trafficked from South America." A couple of months before Europol released its report, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) warned in one of its own that Mexican groups were accessing secure drugs distribution routes and taking over logistics operations. The group found cartels contribute expertise, handling and transportation, while local criminal groups are left in charge of distribution, money laundering and protection. Combined, these have allowed criminal groups from Central America to maintain a locally established European foothold. The issue came into sharp focus earlier this year when members of Europol arrested 16 alleged members of a criminal network involved in producing and trafficking synthetic drugs in Marseille, France. The arrests, made with support of French police, apprehended members of a network operating closely with the Sinaloa Cartel and other criminal gangs. They were found to have been operating across Europe in Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands, and notably across the world in New Zealand. The Sinaloa Cartel - established by infamous kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán - is among the most brutal of cartel groups, having recently been embroiled in an "internal cleansing" effort that saw members assassinate their own hitmen.
Irish Independent
19-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Chief of Irish medicines' watchdog appointed to take over European Union Drugs Agency
Lorraine Nolan, who was chief executive of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) overseeing medicines in Ireland, will taken up the prestigious European role. Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne congratulated Dr Lorraine Nolan on her appointment. Dr Nolan was elected by a two-thirds majority in a secret ballot by the EUDA Management Board following a competitive public recruitment process and will take office on January 1, 2026. Minister Byrne said: "This appointment is one of which Ireland is immensely proud. Dr Nolan's distinguished career and expertise uniquely position her to guide EUDA through its important mission of addressing one of the most significant challenges facing our societies today." The European Union Drugs Agency plays a crucial role in monitoring, analysing, and responding to drug-related threats across the European Union. Under Dr Nolan's leadership, the agency will continue to strengthen its capacity to address the evolving nature of drug markets and their associated harms, he said. Minister Byrne added: 'I am confident that the EUDA will benefit enormously from Dr Nolan's expertise and vision. It is fantastic to see an Irish person elected to lead such a prominent and important EU agency. "I very much look forward to working with her in her new capacity and to continuing Ireland's strong collaboration with EUDA. 'Ireland strongly welcomes and supports the appointment of Irish nationals to senior leadership positions with EU institutions and agencies. Such appointments reflect Ireland's commitment to European integration and our ability to contribute experienced skilled professionals to key roles that benefit the entire European Union.' It was announced by the HPRA recently that Dr Nolan will step down from her position as head of the HPRA at the end of this year to pursue new career options. ADVERTISEMENT Dr Nolan has served as the Chief Executive of the HPRA for over nine years and, by the end of 2025, she will have completed two terms in this leadership role. During her tenure, she has successfully guided the organisation through a significant transformation of its key regulatory functions and an expansion of its operations, elevating the standing of the HPRA on national, European and international levels. In addition, her determined and strategic leadership during Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic ensured the national regulator for medicines and medical devices made a vital contribution to the successful navigation of these challenges. The HPRA said Dr Nolan has been a significant contributor to the leadership of both medicines and medical device regulation at European level. Through her former position as Chair of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Management Board (2022-2025) and her membership of the Heads of Medicines Agency (HMA) Management Group, she has held many significant roles at this level that have both defined strategy and positively enhanced delivery. Professor Michael Donnelly, Chair of the HPRA, said: 'I wish to commend Dr Nolan for her unwavering leadership and dedication to the organisation. "Her tenure has been marked by significant achievements and a hugely positive, enduring legacy. I want to express both my personal thanks and that of the Authority to Lorraine for her service and wish her every success with her future endeavours.' The Authority is commencing the process for recruitment of a new Chief Executive of the HPRA to take up the position from January 2026.
Euronews
18-06-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Cannabis use doubles the risk of dying from heart disease, study finds
People who use cannabis or its synthetic cousin, cannabinoids, are twice as likely to die from heart problems as those who abstain from the drugs, new research has found. Recreational cannabis use remains illegal in most of Europe, but it is the region's most commonly used drug. An estimated 8.4 per cent of adults – 24 million people – used cannabis in the past year, according to the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). Cannabis is generally stronger and more diverse than in past decades, with users having a choice between smoking marijuana, edibles, cannabis concentrates, and cannabinoids, which are synthetic psychoactive drugs with a high concentration of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis that makes people feel high. That has prompted concern about the potential health consequences of modern cannabis – and the new study, published in the journal Heart, is the latest to show they carry weight. In addition to the doubled mortality risks, cannabis use is tied to a 20 per cent higher risk of stroke and a 29 per cent higher risk of heart attacks or other types of acute coronary syndrome, which is when blood flow to the heart is severely restricted, the study found. The findings raise 'serious questions about the assumption that cannabis imposes little cardiovascular risk,' Stanton Glantz and Dr Lynn Silver, researchers at the University of California at San Francisco who were not involved with the study, said in a written comment. For the analysis, a French research team assessed real-world data from 24 studies conducted between 2016 and 2023. Most participants were between the ages of 19 and 59, and cannabis users were more likely to be younger and male compared with people who did not use the drug. Notably, most of the studies were observational, meaning researchers can't say that cannabis use causes heart problems directly. There was also a high risk of bias in most of the studies. More research is needed to understand exactly how cannabis is linked to heart problems, and whether the risks differ based on the type of cannabis someone uses. Despite the limitations, the study authors said their analysis is among the most comprehensive yet to probe the possible link between cannabis and heart problems in the real world. Glantz and Silver pushed for health warnings on cannabis products and protections against secondhand smoke exposure, particularly as countries relax their cannabis laws and the drug becomes more easily available. 'Cannabis needs to be incorporated into the framework for prevention of clinical cardiovascular disease,' they said. British lawmakers have voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales, following concerns about the number of women who are investigated for terminated pregnancies. The House of Commons approved an amendment — it passed 379-317 — to a broader crime bill that would prevent women from being criminally punished under an antiquated law dating back to the mid-19th century. Abortion has been legal in England and Wales for almost six decades but only up to 24 weeks and with the approval of two doctors. The amendment means that women who terminate their pregnancy after 24 weeks will no longer be investigated by the police. Medical professionals or anybody assisting a woman with an abortion outside outside the 24-week limit could still face prosecution. Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, the Labour member of Parliament who introduced one of the amendments, said the change was needed because police have investigated more than 100 women for suspected illegal abortions over the past five years, including some who suffered natural miscarriages and stillbirths. 'This piece of legislation will only take women out of the criminal justice system because they are vulnerable and they need our help,' she said. 'Just what public interest is this serving? This is not justice, it is cruelty and it has got to end.' The House of Commons will now need to pass the crime bill, which is expected, before it goes to the House of Lords, where it can be delayed but not blocked. Under current law, doctors can legally carry out abortions in England, Scotland and Wales up to 24 weeks, and beyond that under special circumstances, such as when the life of the mother is in danger. Abortion in Northern Ireland was decriminalised in 2019. Changes in the law implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic allow women to receive abortion pills through the mail and terminate their own pregnancies at home within 10 weeks of conception. That has led to a handful of widely publicised cases in which women were prosecuted for illegally obtaining abortion pills and using them to end their own pregnancies after 24 weeks or more. Anti-abortion groups opposed the measures, arguing it would open the door to abortion on demand at any stage of pregnancy. 'Unborn babies will have any remaining protection stripped away, and women will be left at the mercy of abusers,' said Alithea Williams, public policy manager for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, which describes itself as the UK's biggest pro-life campaign group. The debate came after recent prosecutions have galvanised support to repeal parts of the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. In one case, a mother of three was sentenced to more than two years in prison in 2023 for medically inducing an abortion about eight months into her pregnancy. Carla Foster, 45, was released about a month later by an appeals court that reduced her sentence. Judge Victoria Sharp said that case called for 'compassion, not punishment' and there was no useful purpose in jailing her. Last month, a jury acquitted Nicola Packer on a charge of unlawfully self-administering poison or a noxious thing with intent to procure a miscarriage. Packer, who took abortion medicine when she was about 26 weeks pregnant, testified that she did not know she had been pregnant more than 10 weeks. Supporters of the bill said it was a landmark reform that would keep women from going to prison for ending their pregnancy. 'At a time when we're seeing rollbacks on reproductive rights, most notably in the United States, this crucial milestone in the fight for reproductive rights sends a powerful message that our lawmakers are standing up for women,' said Louise McCudden of MSI Reproductive Choices.
Irish Examiner
12-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Cocaine hauls hit record high for seventh year in a row warns EU drug agency
Record quantities of cocaine have been seized in Europe for the seventh year in a row, the EU's drug agency has said. The EUDA said while cocaine cartels typically use commercial containers to ship multi-tonne consignments, they also employ other methods, such as their own cargo ships — and cited the example of the MV Matthew, caught off the Cork coast in September 2023. That vessel was boarded dramatically by elite Army Rangers and 2.25 tonnes of cocaine was seized, in an operation also involving gardaí, customs, the naval service, and the air corps. Gerry Harrahill of Revenue and Customs, Assistant Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, and Irish Naval Service Commander Tony Geraghty at the Joint Task Force media briefing on September 27, 2023, after the Panamanian-registered MV Matthew was seized with €157m worth of cocaine on board. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA The EU agency said cocaine was the second most common problem drug in the EU for people seeking treatment for the first time, accounting for 26% of all new entrants. However, Irish figures show that the numbers seeking first-time treatment for cocaine was much greater, accounting for 46% of new entrants into treatment in 2023. The EUDA said that, as there was a long time gap between first use and seeking treatment, there could be a 'surge' in treatment demand for cocaine in the coming years. In its European Union Drug Report 2025, the agency also said: Europe is facing an emerging threat from synthetic drugs — including artificial substances that mimic cannabis, heroin and stimulants; High-potency cannabis extracts and edibles such as jellies were of 'particular concern' given hospital admissions and because they were attractive to children; Semi-synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC were found in vapes and gummies and widely available online and in stores in Ireland; Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and Netherlands were allowing for home growing of cannabis, non-profit growing clubs, and cannabis use in private — but the EUDA urged the policies be evaluated to grasp their impact on health and security; The increasing strength of ecstasy posed 'unpredictable health risks' to consumers, with the average MDMA content almost doubling since 2011. This latter trend was highlighted in Ireland last week, when the HSE issued an alert saying that one in four ecstasy tablets tested in 2024 had an average strength about 200mg, twice the typical adult dose. The EUDA report said 419 tonnes of cocaine was seized in 2023, compared to 323 tonnes in 2022 — up 30%. Some 303 tonnes were seized in 2021 and 211 tonnes in 2020, meaning the total almost doubled in three years. European Commissioner for internal affairs Magnus Brunner said: 'The illicit drug trade poses a severe threat to the health and security of our citizens. 'It fosters an environment of intimidation and corruption, undermining the fabric of our communities.' Read More EU warns of synthetic drug threat as seizures and overdose risks rise across Ireland
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Nitazene: All About Drug That's Upto 500 Times Stronger Than Heroin
A drug, believed to be 50-500 times more effective than heroin, has become a major cause of concern in London, UK. Authorities have issued a warning over the deadly synthetic opioid named Nitazene, which is gaining popularity among partygoers. The drug, which is apparently similar to fentanyl, is suspected to be the reason behind two recent deaths, the BBC reported, adding that even tiny doses can be fatal. The Metropolitan Police said that an investigation is underway into the "sudden deaths" of a 28-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman in Southall on May 26. "This is following reports that the individuals allegedly passed away after taking an illicit substance in the form of a green pill," a spokesperson for the force said as quoted by the BBC. The Loop, a UK-based drug testing charity, said that the pills contain synthetic opioids called Nitazenes. The pills can be "50 to 500 times stronger than heroin", and they look like oxycodone pills (oxys). In an Instagram post, East London nightclub The Cause said that the pills had caused "several hospitalisations across multiple London venues". What are nitazenes? Nitazenes were developed in the 1950s as pain-relieving agents. BBC reported that these drugs suppress the respiratory system, hence, people die as they stop breathing. The report also noted that a person can be saved by taking naloxone, which is an antidote. There have been at least 18 deaths linked to nitazenes in London from May 2023 to June 2024, as per the most recent government data. The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) in a recent report highlighted rapid shifts in Europe's drug market. The report noted that this trend has created new health and security risks. As per EUDA, a total of 88 new synthetic opioids have appeared on the European market since 2009. All of the seven new synthetic opioids formally notified to the EWS were nitazenes in 2024. A total of 22 nitazenes are being monitored in Europe to date in Europe. "A recent EUDA pilot threat assessment, focusing on new synthetic opioids in the Baltics, found that nitazenes accounted for a significant share of overdose deaths in Estonia and Latvia. In 2024, at least seven EU Member States and Norway reported harms linked to nitazenes," the EUDA report read.
