Ketamine swapped for salt as smugglers exploit Europe loophole in booming market
Summary
Criminals are using tricky methods to traffic ketamine, a drug with both medical and illegal recreational uses, across Europe. After crossing borders legally, shipments sometimes disappear and end up on the black market, as seen in the recent case where ketamine was swapped for salt between Amsterdam and Brussels.Key Facts
- A shipment of ketamine was switched with salt somewhere between Amsterdam and Brussels.
- Ketamine is classified differently across countries; in some it's a medicine, in others a narcotic.
- Criminal gangs use this classification difference to transport ketamine legally before diverting it to illegal markets.
- In Belgium, authorities have found 28 similar cases in 2023, involving 28 tonnes of ketamine.
- This method involves complex routes, often starting where ketamine is produced legally, like India.
- In the UK, ketamine use increased by 85% from 2023 to 2024.
- In 2023, there were 53 deaths in the UK linked to ketamine.
- The drug is vital as an anaesthetic in medical settings, complicating enforcement efforts.
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