The head of Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office, Holger Münch, has warned of a sharp increase in hard drug availability, particularly cocaine, across the country.

Mr Münch said that with the North American market reaching saturation, Europe was becoming a growing focus for cocaine distribution.

He described the situation as a “flood of cocaine” and warned that the drug was spreading rapidly across Germany.

The BKA also sees changes in the heroin market, Mr Münch said, pointing to the Taliban’s ban on opium cultivation in Afghanistan.

He said this was likely leading to reduced supply and a growing risk that heroin could be mixed with synthetic opioids, which significantly increased the danger for users.

According to Germany’s 2024 crime statistics, heroin-related offences declined in 2024.

However, the number of cocaine-related offences rose by nearly five per cent. 

(dpa/NAN)