Romania Evolves from Cocaine Transit Point to Consumer Market; Bucharest, Constanța, Arad, Timiș, and Iași Emerge as Major Trafficking Hubs

Cocaine trafficking and consumption in Romania have seen significant increases in recent years, according to the latest analysis from the National Anti-Drug Agency (ANA) and the most recent United Nations (UN) report on cocaine. Cocaine seized in Romania during 2021 originated from or passed through Belgium, Ecuador, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, as per ANA.

Cannabis and cocaine availability are on the rise in the illicit drug market, with seizure values reaching the highest ever for cocaine and the second-highest for cannabis to date, according to the ANA report.

The Anti-Drug Agency’s report shows a significant increase in the number of cocaine seizures, from 449 drug-specific seizures in 2020 to 541 in 2021. The amount confiscated also surged from 43,496 kg in 2020 to 874,727 kg in 2021.

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Of the total confiscated cocaine, 872,423 kg (or 99.74%) came from 28 significant seizures, while the remaining 2,304 kg came from 513 seizures, averaging 4.49 grams per seizure. Out of the significant seizures, 25 of them, amounting to 871,523 kg (or 99.9%), were destined for Romania.

In terms of trafficking routes and concealment methods, cocaine trafficking took place:
– By road on the routes: Spain – France – Germany – Austria – Hungary – Romania, Netherlands – Germany – Austria – Hungary – Romania, Belgium – Germany – Austria – Hungary – Romania, France – Romania, Turkey – Bulgaria – Romania, Spain – Hungary – Romania, Netherlands – Romania, Spain – Romania, Italy – Romania, the UK – Romania. It was smuggled in parcels shipped through courier companies/post, in cars: within body components, in luggage/hand luggage, in trucks: inside banana boxes, and on individuals;
– By sea on the route: Ecuador – Germany;
– By rail on the route: Germany – Romania, inside fruit containers.

The synthesis carried out by Romanian authorities reveals that 10.7% of those aged between 15-64 have consumed at least one type of illicit drug in their lifetime, while 6% have consumed in the past year, and 3.9% in the past month. Compared to the previous study, increases are observed for all three types of consumption, but the most significant increase is in last month consumption, which has risen by 2.2 times.

Among the population aged between 15-34 years, the values recorded for the three consumption types are higher than those observed in the general population. The consumption of any illicit drug throughout life is observed in 16.9% of these individuals, 10% consumed in the last year, and 6.6% in the last month. Compared to the previous study, in this age group too, there are increases in all three consumption types, but the most significant is for the last month’s consumption, which has increased by 1.4 times.