Global
score

Synthetic drug trade

4.62

As with other drug illicit markets, the production, distribution and sale of synthetic drugs is covered by the Index. Consumption of such drugs, while not in and of itself a form of organised crime, was considered in determining the ‘reach’ of the illicit drug market. Notably, synthetic opioids, such as tramadol, as well as amphetamine-type stimulants, methamphetamines and fentanyl are included in this criminal market, as well as any other narcotic included in the 1972 Protocol, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988. Notably, ‘substandard and falsified medical products’ as outlined by the World Health Organization has been excluded.

Highest-scoring countries

Syria

9.50

Syria

Criminality

6.84

Criminal market

6.05

Criminal actors

7.63

Resilience

1.88

Myanmar

9.50

Myanmar

Criminality

7.59

Criminal market

7.05

Criminal actors

8.13

Resilience

3.42

Philippines

9.00

Philippines

Criminality

6.84

Criminal market

6.30

Criminal actors

7.38

Resilience

4.13

Mexico

9.00

Mexico

Criminality

7.57

Criminal market

8.00

Criminal actors

7.13

Resilience

4.46

South Africa

8.50

South Africa

Criminality

6.63

Criminal market

6.00

Criminal actors

7.25

Resilience

5.79

Lowest-scoring countries

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

1.00

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Criminality

3.30

Criminal market

2.85

Criminal actors

3.75

Resilience

5.46

St. Lucia

1.00

St. Lucia

Criminality

4.09

Criminal market

3.05

Criminal actors

5.13

Resilience

5.63

St. Kitts and Nevis

1.00

St. Kitts and Nevis

Criminality

4.10

Criminal market

3.20

Criminal actors

5.00

Resilience

5.00

South Sudan

1.00

South Sudan

Criminality

6.34

Criminal market

5.30

Criminal actors

7.38

Resilience

1.83

Sao Tome and Principe

1.00

Sao Tome and Principe

Criminality

1.78

Criminal market

1.80

Criminal actors

1.75

Resilience

4.92

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The criminal markets score is represented by the pyramid base size and the criminal actors score is represented by the pyramid height, on a scale ranging from 1 to 10. The resilience score is represented by the panel height, which can be identified by the side of the panel.

This report was funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of State.

ENACT is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Security Studies and INTERPOL, in affiliation with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.