The UNODC Early Warning Advisory highlights a continued global expansion of new psychoactive substances (NPS), with nearly 1,400 substances reported worldwide. In 2024 alone, a record number of substances were identified, including over 100 newly detected compounds.

Synthetic opioids—particularly fentanyl analogues and nitazenes—are a growing concern, now reported across all regions. At the same time, benzodiazepine-type substances remain widely present in drug samples. A key emerging risk is polysubstance use, with a significant share of deaths involving multiple substances.

Overall, the...

The European Union Drugs Agency has released updated data sheets providing a clear and comparable overview of drug-related indicators across six Western Balkan partners under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). These include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia.

The data sheets bring together health and security information in one place, making it easier for policymakers and practitioners to access and use routine data. They are part of ongoing EU support to help these countries strengthen monitoring systems and align with EU...

The European Commission has introduced new controls on nine high-risk chemical precursors used in illicit drug production under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/314. Most of these substances are linked to synthetic cathinones, while one is used in amphetamine production.

This measure responds to the growing scale of synthetic drug production in Europe, with dozens of production sites dismantled in recent years. The regulation is based on updated risk assessments that improve understanding of how precursor chemicals are sourced and diverted into illegal markets.

Overall, the new controls aim to...

The 2025 Global Organized Crime Index shows that overall crime levels in Europe remain stable, and the region continues to rank among the least affected globally. However, this stability hides a more complex reality, with criminal markets and actors evolving and expanding.

Financial crime is the most widespread threat, driven by online fraud and cross-border schemes, while cybercrime continues to grow, often linked to state-backed or hybrid actors. Drug markets are also shifting, with cocaine and synthetic drugs increasing, while trafficking and smuggling networks remain deeply entrenched.

A...

Short Summary

Scam centres are a fast-growing global organized crime threat, generating over $1 trillion in losses in 2024. They use technology and psychological manipulation to target victims worldwide, supported by global criminal networks and easy-to-access tools.

Despite enforcement efforts, scams are expanding and adapting, often moving to low-governance environments and exploiting geopolitical gaps.

Key Actions

• Increase international coordination and intelligence sharing

• Pressure safe havens and strengthen regulation of tech and financial platforms

• Cooperate across...