New gangs 'Uberise' Europe's cocaine supply and bring more violence

Rising production from Latin America has led groups from North Africa and the Balkans to change the drug trade, EU agency says
The Guardian (UK)
Friday, December 14, 2018

A surge in the supply of pure cocaine to Europe has led to a rise in drug-related murders as new criminal gangs muscle into a market previously dominated by the mafia, the EU drugs agency has said. The extra output from Latin America, especially by the biggest producer, Colombia has led to growing numbers of gangs including from Morocco and the Balkans setting up their own smuggling lines straight from producers. This has seen an “Uberisation” of the cocaine trade characterised by faster, anytime-anywhere delivery, a report by the Lisbon-based agency said, which has also kept prices lower.