Czech Republic Leads Europe in Methamphetamine Labs

The Czech Republic has the largest number of small methamphetamine labs in Europe. Police prosecuted 3,415 people for drug-related offences last year.

Methamphetamine and marijuana remain the most commonly used drugs in the Czech Republic. Last year, the police prosecuted 3,415 people for drug-related offences, a number similar to 2022 when 3,418 people were charged.

“Classic Czech-made methamphetamine is typically produced in small domestic labs, while foreigners are significantly involved in the illegal trade,” stated officers from the National Drug Control Centre.

Part of the methamphetamine produced is for personal consumption, with the rest sold to regular customers, mostly within the Czech Republic and occasionally to neighboring countries. According to the report, small labs produce about 50 grams of the drug per cycle.

Methamphetamine from Mexico

In recent years, large quantities of methamphetamine have been imported into European ports from Mexico, as well as from some African and Middle Eastern countries.

“Hundreds of kilograms of Mexican methamphetamine are produced by criminal groups in laboratories in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and Belgium,” according to the National Drug Control Centre.

Cheaper “Mexican methamphetamine” is increasingly found along the German border. However, in the Czech Republic, this methamphetamine has not gained much interest despite its lower price, as users claim it is of inferior quality compared to locally produced methamphetamine. It is made using a different method and precursor, resulting in a lower active substance content.

“Mexican methamphetamine costs between CZK 375,000 and CZK 400,000 per kilogram when bought in bulk in the Czech Republic, and one gram sells for CZK 1,000. Czech-made pervitin sells for CZK 500,000 to CZK 600,000 per kilogram, with a gram costing between 1,000 and 2,000 crowns,” stated the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The National Drug Control Centre’s reports show that drug tourism exists along all Czech borders, with drugs exported to Slovakia and Poland at low prices. Czechs continue to influence the drug trade in Germany’s border areas.

Last year, most prosecuted individuals were Czechs, with 3,085 arrested, while 330 were foreigners, mostly from Slovakia. Most cases were handled by police in Prague and the Central Bohemia Region, with the fewest cases in the Zlín Region.

As in previous years, the most common offences were the illegal production and disposal of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, followed by possession of drugs for personal use.

During criminal proceedings, property and money worth over CZK 145 million were seized. The value of the seized drugs exceeded CZK 1.4 billion.

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