EU drugs agency warns AI is helping gangs make and move drugs

In short: Europe’s drugs watchdog says criminal gangs are using AI and other new tech to develop new illegal drugs and smuggle them more effectively.

What's going on

Lorraine Nolan, the executive director of the EU Drugs Agency, told the Financial Times that technology is speeding up changes in Europe’s illegal drug market. She said traffickers are using tools such as drones, and online marketplaces for buying chemicals, to produce and move drugs while avoiding detection.

Nolan warned that AI can help criminals design new “designer” chemicals. Think of it like using a smart assistant to try many recipe variations quickly, until you find one that works. In this case, the “recipe” is a chemical structure that can produce a drug effect.

The agency’s annual European Drug Report also points to rising drug activity. Between 2014 and 2024, EU seizure quantities rose sharply for drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, amphetamine, and herbal cannabis. The report says new psychoactive substances, including strong synthetic opioids, were detected for the first time at a rate of about one a week last year.

Nolan also raised concerns about new delivery methods. EU countries have seized vapes containing drugs, including synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabis, and officials worry similar devices could be used for other harmful substances.

What to watch

The EU Drugs Agency says it is working with other authorities and tech companies to understand how AI is being used in the illegal drug trade. It has also strengthened its early warning system and added a new alert mechanism to share risks with labs, police, and health services. Separately, the European Commission has announced plans to update rules around drug “precursors” (the ingredients used to make drugs), as criminals create new versions designed to slip past existing bans.

Source: Financial Times