EU Drugs Chief: Crisis "Beyond Imagination," Gangs Threaten States

The head of Europe's drug agency has issued a stark warning: the power and violence of international drug gangs now pose a direct threat to the security of European nations. Alexis Goosdeel, Director of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), stated the scale of the continent's narcotics crisis is "not even possible to imagine." He described criminal networks as highly sophisticated, fluid organizations. These gangs use extreme violence and corruption to control markets. Their operations undermine public institutions and the rule of law. Goosdeel emphasized the gangs' vast financial power. This allows them to infiltrate legitimate economies and society at many levels. The threat extends beyond traditional law enforcement. The EUDA alert calls for a coordinated, continent-wide response. It treats the issue as a major national security challenge, not just a criminal matter.