Europe has become a spectator to a "tsunami"&nbsp;of cocaine, and getting the drug in big cities has become as easy as ordering a pizza. People using messaging applications like WhatsApp and Signal place an order, and within 20 minutes a dealer shows up at their door.

As Police commissioner Virginie Lahaye puts it, now the process of "scoring"&nbsp;is, "much easier than having to go to some grim place in the suburbs."

Watch |&nbsp;No amount of alcohol is safe to drink

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Lahaye, the head of the Paris drug squad, was quoted by AFP as saying, "Consumers prefer to go on a platform and have their drugs delivered by a guy who looks like a Deliveroo rider."

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) reports that in 2021, around 3.5 million Europeans took cocaine. This is four times what the European population consumed 20 years back.

The head of Belgian federal police, Eric Snoeck, calls it a “tsunami” of cocaine. According to Europol, in 2021, 240 tonnes of the drug were seized. This is again a huge increase from the almost one-fifth quantity seized just a decade ago.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-cocaine-deluge-has-taken-over-europes-biggest-port-542665">A cocaine deluge has taken over Europe's biggest port</a>

"Kidnappings, torture and hits: there is so much money at stake that the criminal organisations have brought the cartels’ methods to our shores,"&nbsp;said French anti-drug office’s Stephanie Cherbonnier.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/colombia-breaks-coca-growing-record-slams-war-on-drugs-527399">Colombia breaks coca-growing record, slams 'failure of war on drugs', moots amnesty</a>

Reportedly, with Europe emerging as one of the most lucrative markets for the "big drug cartels", corruption and extreme violence that served them well in South America have also emerged as their SOP in Europe.

At the street level, as per Europol estimates, Europe’s cocaine market is worth between 7.6 and 10.5 billion euros (8.24 to 11.39 USD).

(With inputs from agencies)

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Europe has become a spectator to a "tsunami" of cocaine, and getting the drug in big cities has become as easy as ordering a pizza. People using messaging applications like WhatsApp and Signal place an order, and within 20 minutes a dealer shows up at their door.

Europe has become a spectator to a "tsunami" of cocaine, and getting the drug in big cities has become as easy as ordering a pizza. People using messaging applications like WhatsApp and Signal place an order, and within 20 minutes a dealer shows up at their door. As Police commissioner Virginie Lahaye puts it, now the process of "scoring" is, "much easier than having to go to some grim place in the suburbs." Watch | No amount of alcohol is safe to drink Lahaye, the head of the Paris drug squad, was quoted by AFP as saying, "Consumers prefer to go on a platform and have their drugs delivered by a guy who looks like a Deliveroo rider." European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) reports that in 2021, around 3.5 million Europeans took cocaine. This is four times what the European population consumed 20 years back. The head of Belgian federal police, Eric Snoeck, calls it a “tsunami” of cocaine. According to Europol, in 2021, 240 tonnes of the drug were seized. This is again a huge increase from the almost one-fifth quantity seized just a decade ago. Also read | A cocaine deluge has taken over Europe's biggest port "Kidnappings, torture and hits: there is so much money at stake that the criminal organisations have brought the cartels’ methods to our shores," said French anti-drug office’s Stephanie Cherbonnier. Also Read | Colombia breaks coca-growing record, slams 'failure of war on drugs', moots amnesty Reportedly, with Europe emerging as one of the most lucrative markets for the "big drug cartels", corruption and extreme violence that served them well in South America have also emerged as their SOP in Europe. At the street level, as per Europol estimates, Europe’s cocaine market is worth between 7.6 and 10.5 billion euros (8.24 to 11.39 USD). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

In Europe ordering cocaine is as easy as ordering pizza; 'customers' avail 20 minutes delivery: Report

Ahead of the holiday season, Custom authorities in Belgium have seized 10 tonnes of cocaine worth more than €750 million ($795 million) on Antwerp. Hailed as "White Christmas", the operations under it will see authorities in Belgium and the Netherlands work to capture record levels of cocaine. The substance is smuggled in through the Belgian city of Antwerp.&nbsp;

"White Christmas, that is the period in which the white powder falls en masse from the sky," Kristian Vanderwaeren, the director-general of Belgium’s customs and excise department, told VRT news.

Officials also made a large drug bust a week back when they found 3.9 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a shipment of bananas from Ecuador. Last Wednesday, another 4.8 tonnes in a second load of bananas was found in a shipment from Panama. A third similar shipment being sent to the Netherlands via Antwerp was hiding a further 1.3 tonnes.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/merry-christmas-santa-and-his-helpers-undertake-an-unusual-drug-bust-in-peru-544685">Merry Christmas! 'Santa' and his helpers undertake an unusual drug bust in Peru</a>

The total cocaine seizures for this year are expected to surpass last year's figure of 90 tonnes that worth €6 billion ($6.35 billion).

Law enforcement have been working round the clock to stop the entry of drugs into Europe. Six members of a "super-cartel", who reportedly ran one-third of Europe's cocaine trade from Dubai, were also arrested earlier this year.&nbsp;

However, production of cocaine is still on the rise and it those connected with the trade manage to push it into Europe where the demand is also regularly increasing.&nbsp;

Vanderwaeren also mentioned how smugglers are coming up with innovative ways to stop their shipment from being busted.

“In the past, people mainly used sports bags, which happens less,” he said. "We are seeing more and more that cocaine is being hidden in the structure of shipping containers. That makes it more difficult for us to discover and dismantle."

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&nbsp;

Notably, alcohol and drug consumption see a considerable increase over the holidays. During December alone, 600 million units of alcohol are consumed in the UK, a rise of 41 per cent when compared to any other time of year.

In the US, December, January, and March are the most dangerous times of the year for drug-and-alcohol-related deaths, according to CDC. Nearly 91,000 people have lost their lives in the month of December since 1999. According to American Addictions Centres, about 29 per cent Americans said they drink more during the holidays.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ahead of the holiday season, Custom authorities in Belgium have seized 10 tonnes of cocaine worth more than €750 million ($795 million) on Antwerp. Hailed as "White Christmas", the operations under it will see authorities in Belgium and the Netherlands work to capture record levels of cocaine.

Ahead of the holiday season, Custom authorities in Belgium have seized 10 tonnes of cocaine worth more than €750 million ($795 million) on Antwerp. Hailed as "White Christmas", the operations under it will see authorities in Belgium and the Netherlands work to capture record levels of cocaine. The substance is smuggled in through the Belgian city of Antwerp. "White Christmas, that is the period in which the white powder falls en masse from the sky," Kristian Vanderwaeren, the director-general of Belgium’s customs and excise department, told VRT news. Officials also made a large drug bust a week back when they found 3.9 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a shipment of bananas from Ecuador. Last Wednesday, another 4.8 tonnes in a second load of bananas was found in a shipment from Panama. A third similar shipment being sent to the Netherlands via Antwerp was hiding a further 1.3 tonnes. Also Read | Merry Christmas! 'Santa' and his helpers undertake an unusual drug bust in Peru The total cocaine seizures for this year are expected to surpass last year's figure of 90 tonnes that worth €6 billion ($6.35 billion). Law enforcement have been working round the clock to stop the entry of drugs into Europe. Six members of a "super-cartel", who reportedly ran one-third of Europe's cocaine trade from Dubai, were also arrested earlier this year. However, production of cocaine is still on the rise and it those connected with the trade manage to push it into Europe where the demand is also regularly increasing. Vanderwaeren also mentioned how smugglers are coming up with innovative ways to stop their shipment from being busted. “In the past, people mainly used sports bags, which happens less,” he said. "We are seeing more and more that cocaine is being hidden in the structure of shipping containers. That makes it more difficult for us to discover and dismantle." × Notably, alcohol and drug consumption see a considerable increase over the holidays. During December alone, 600 million units of alcohol are consumed in the UK, a rise of 41 per cent when compared to any other time of year. In the US, December, January, and March are the most dangerous times of the year for drug-and-alcohol-related deaths, according to CDC. Nearly 91,000 people have lost their lives in the month of December since 1999. According to American Addictions Centres, about 29 per cent Americans said they drink more during the holidays. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

A White Christmas! Authorities seize record amounts of cocaine ahead of the holiday season

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In Europe ordering cocaine is as easy as ordering pizza; 'customers' avail 20 minutes delivery: Report

A White Christmas! Authorities seize record amounts of cocaine ahead of the holiday season