Stockholm – A synthetic drug resembling khat is becoming increasingly common on Europe’s drug market. The EU’s drug agency EUDA is warning of an “unprecedented” amount of imports and seizures.
Unlike the plant-based drug khat, which also contains cathinone and affects the central nervous system with amphetamine-like properties, the cathinones that EUDA is warning about are produced chemically.
In 2023, which is the latest year reported in EUDA’s annual report for 2025, the imports and seizures of synthetic cathinones amounted to three times the total amount of amphetamine and methamphetamine seized in Europe. The amount of seizures has increased from 4.5 tons in 2021 to 37 tons in 2023.
Large quantities are believed to be coming in from India through the Netherlands, but 53 production sites were found in 2023 in EU countries, including one in Sweden.
(June 6)