Laboratories of Synthetic Drugs - Criminological Aspects of Drug Production in Poland

• In Event: Drug-crime links

Abstract

This presentation examines the evolving landscape of synthetic drug production in Poland, which has become a key European hub, particularly for synthetic cathinones. Law enforcement data indicate a shift from traditional amphetamine and methamphetamine manufacturing to substances like mephedrone (4-MMC) and clephedrone (4-CMC), known as "cocaine for the poor" due to their low production costs and ease of synthesis.

The study will present the evolution of illegal laboratories and their impact on the drug market, as well as an overview of drug production-related crime based on police and court statistics. Recent reports from institutions such as the Central Investigation Bureau of Police (CIBP), the National Centre for Prevention of Addictions, the European Union Drug Agency (EUDA), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will also enhance the analysis.

The study will be enriched by the most notorious examples of dismantled laboratories by the CIBP in 2024 and 2025, highlighting both existing and necessary international cooperation in combating drug-related crime. Additionally, it will provide insights into the organizational structures behind illicit drug production, emphasizing the dominance of Polish homogeneous criminal groups while also examining international collaborations, particularly with nationals of the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia, and Ukraine, while also acknowledging the involvement of other actors.

Author

• Aleksandra Stachelska, Faculty of Law University of Bialystok