Cyprus’ Drug Law Enforcement Unit has already seized more cocaine in the first five months of 2026 than it did throughout the whole of 2025, its commander Christos Andreou told the Cyprus News Agency.
The figures point to a sharp rise in availability and trafficking pressure, at a time when European authorities are warning of a more complex and aggressive drug market. According to Andreou, 72 kilos of cocaine were seized between January and May 2026, compared with 52 kilos during all of 2025.
The trend is not limited to Cyprus, he said. Across Europe and beyond, authorities are seeing greater availability of drugs, stronger substances, more diversified products and more active organised crime networks.
Andreou was speaking after the presentation of the European Drug Report 2026, whose findings were unveiled on Tuesday in Brussels and Nicosia. The report highlighted the growing complexity of Europe’s drug market and the expanding role of organised criminal groups.
New substances enter the market
The Drug Squad commander also pointed to the appearance of new substances in the local market, including the psychostimulant captagon.
Since the start of 2026, more than 1,000 captagon tablets have been seized in Cyprus, compared with around 32 tablets in the whole of 2025. Andreou said authorities had also recorded increased seizures of other drug-containing preparations, which can cause serious toxicity and dependency problems for users.
He said cooperation with European agencies and authorities in third countries shows a clear upward trend in both drug use and seizures.
Andreou said YKAN, like the European Union Drugs Agency, is using statistical data and intelligence to set national and European priorities, strengthen cooperation and combat the trafficking and distribution of illegal substances.
Source: CNA
