European Drug Markets: MDMA (ecstasy)

This webinar introduces the MDMA module of the joint European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) – Europol publication EU Drug Markets, a strategic and action-oriented analysis of the information available on Europe’s illicit drug markets. The report takes a broad view of these markets, from production and trafficking to distribution and use.

By covering specific drugs in dedicated modules, it provides a holistic and systemic perspective, capturing key aspects of the wider security and public health consequences of drug markets, as well as the main factors driving change and new threats. Additionally, it provides a unique set of essential resources for law enforcement professionals, policy makers, and the academic community.

By the end of this webinar, the audience will be able to:

• Identify characteristics of the MDMA market in the EU;
• Summarise the aspects of MDMA production, including (pre-)precursors, production processes, and waste;
• Explain characteristics of criminal networks involved in the MDMA market, including trafficking routes, seizures, and destinations of MDMA;
• Describe elements of the MDMA consumers market, including drug purity, aspects of use and health risks, as well as the relevance of monitoring for law enforcement by e.g. wastewater analysis, web surveys, and hair sampling;
• Identify actions to address current MDMA threats in the European market to increase preparedness for law enforcement and judicial authorities.

EMPACT training activity

Combating new forms of organised crime requires more cooperation between police and gendarmes, customs officers, border guards, judges, and prosecutors. EU institutions, agencies and Member States work together to tackle organised and serious international crime through a permanent and key instrument: the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).

CEPOL plays a crucial role in the EMPACT mechanism through the provision of specialised training and the identification of training needs within each common security threat. Every year, CEPOL provides a comprehensive training package for each common EU crime priority consisting of onsite, online and exchange training activities.

Target audience

Law enforcement and judicial authorities, and (forensic) experts dealing with investigation and prosecution of drug-related serious and organised crime.