Europol has supported the French National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) in dismantling a criminal organisation producing and further distributing synthetic drugs on the EU market and globally. The investigation also involved law enforcement authorities from Belgium.

Two main organisers identified

In June 2024, the French authorities seized 216 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and arrested two French nationals in connection with the case. The subsequent criminal investigation revealed a criminal network involved in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs with strong ties to the Mexican Sinaloa cartel as well as to criminal gangs active in Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

The two main organisers of the network relied heavily on the logistical support, expertise and preparation provided by the Mexican cartels. In turn, these cartels depended on local intermediaries to anchor their operations and expand their influence. This interdependence underscores the transnational nature of the network and the cooperation between criminal actors across continents.

Investigators established that the chemicals used in the production of the synthetic drugs had been sourced from China. The pieces of evidence collected during the probe led to the identification of the main organisers, one Algerian and one French national. The two suspects are allegedly responsible for the whole production and dissemination chain including the smuggling of pre-precursors, setting up the lab, “cooking” of the drugs and their subsequent trafficking. They used cryptocurrency to facilitate the illegal financial transactions.

The action day on 19 May led to:

• 16 arrests (1 Belgian, 13 French, 1 Serbian and 1 Mexican/American), 15 in France and 1 in Belgium;
• 16 house searches;
• Seizures including 3 vehicles and luxury goods valued at about EUR 100 000, almost EUR 80 000 in bank accounts, phones and other electronics, and about EUR 10 000 in cash.

In addition, some EUR 30 000 in cryptocurrency has been frozen. That part of the investigation is still ongoing with further seizures expected down the line.

Synthetic drug production on the rise across the EU

During the action day, officers searched a former drugs lab site, where they found traces of methamphetamine production. 
They also discovered evidence of chemical dumping, including discarded containers, chemical residues, and signs of illicit waste disposal such as burying and dumping in the surrounding area, indicating attempts to conceal the scale of the synthetic drug manufacturing activities.

Such illegal production labs are not new to the EU. However, production and trafficking of synthetic drugs in the EU are rising sharply, as highlighted in the EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment 2025 (EU SOCTA). Once limited to a few regions, production now spans more EU Member States, supplying both domestic and global markets. Driven by high profits, the trade is marked by violent competition, corruption, and the infiltration of legal business structures. 

Already in 2022, a joint Europol-DEA report revealed the increasing collaboration between Mexican cartels and EU-based criminal networks. These alliances have been seen to support the trafficking and local production of methamphetamine and cocaine in Europe. Specifically, successful operations have revealed that Mexican groups provide their EU criminal associates with technical know-how such as skilled methamphetamine “cooks” and help establish cocaine conversion labs.  

Europol facilitated the exchange of information and provided continuous analytical support to the investigation. Europol also contributed to the overall case coordination among various agencies. On the day, the agency deployed an expert to Marseille to cross-check operational information in real time and support the investigators in the field.