Mauritius and Europe grapple with surge in synthetic drug threats

Public health experts warn that the global illicit drug market is rapidly shifting toward highly potent, synthetic psycho‑active substances that are difficult to detect. In Mauritius, Dr Fayzal Sulliman, former head of the National Agency for Drug Control, says traffickers are now using drones to transport these drugs to the island’s coast, calling for a comprehensive upgrade of surveillance, detection and treatment capabilities.

A European Union agency report released on 9 June 2026 documents the human toll of this shift, recording at least 7 600 overdose deaths in 2024 across the EU, Turkey and Norway. The report highlights that a new, often unknown, compound appears each week, outpacing current testing methods and exposing users to unpredictable and sometimes lethal effects. Authorities face challenges in monitoring, regulating and responding to the fast‑evolving supply chain of synthetic drugs.

Both regions underscore the need for stronger international cooperation, improved laboratory capacity and risk‑reduction strategies to combat the emerging synthetic drug crisis.