Illicit synthetic drugs flooding Polish market, daily reports Illicit synthetic drugs are flooding the Polish market, and the authorities have shut down over 30 manufacturing labs this year, according to the Rzeczpospolita daily.
Illicit synthetic drugs are flooding the Polish market, and the authorities have shut down over 30 manufacturing labs this year, according to the Rzeczpospolita daily.
Synthetic drugs are comparably stimulative and addictive to their natural counterparts, such as heroin and cocaine, but way cheaper to produce. Photo: CBŚP
The criminal underworld is moving away from natural drugs such as cocaine and heroin and converting to the production of synthetic ones, which are similarly addictive but much cheaper to produce, Rzeczpospolita reported.
The finished product is being distributed mostly via the darknet. However, some dealers openly advertise their products on social media, using a diamond emoji as a code since clephedrone, one of the most popular synthetic drugs, is commonly referred to as “crystal.”
Over the past 12 months, Poland has seen sharp growth in the number of labs producing synthetic drugs. This year alone, the Police Central Investigation Bureau (CBŚP) has already busted 33 such facilities—an average of over five per month. Over the whole of 2023, 56 labs were dismantled.
One of the recent crackdowns can be seen below: ‘Poor man’s cocaine’
“The most frequently busted labs are those producing mephedrone and clephedrone. The substances, called ‘poor man’s cocaine’, also have a strong stimulative effect but are incomparably cheaper than cocaine,” said an officer from the CBŚP department combating drug crime.
The wholesale price of “crystal” in Poland is €1,875 per kilogram, while the price of cocaine ranges between €28,000 and €40,000, the officer added. “This is the real problem now, not fentanyl and opioids.”
The largest labs usually operate in industrial spaces or abandoned farms. Those responsible for manufacturing drugs, referred to as chemists, usually acquire second-hand equipment, with China and India providing low-cost options.
The initial investment quickly proves profitable as the production process is straightforward, “akin to following a cake recipe with precise measurements and instructions,” the officer said.
Legal loopholes
“Crystal” is wrongfully considered by many users to be a relatively safe drug that gives only short-term stimulating effects. Consumption of it has increased during parties and in nightclubs in particular.
Furthermore, the ingredients used for its production are not on Poland’s list of substances controlled by law, so possessing them is not punished.
Experts warn that the consequences of a synthetic drug overdose can be tragic and may include impaired consciousness, increased blood pressure, hypothermia, and sudden cardiac arrest.
In 2023, 16 people died in Poland from a clephedrone overdose.
