Stopping drug‑driven violence to protect our communities

The European Parliament condemns the murder of 20‑year‑old Mehdi Kessaci, who was killed in Marseille on 13 November 2025 in a drug‑related attack. The Parliament says the killing is a direct assault on freedom of expression and the rule of law, and it calls for stronger European action against drug trafficking.

The Parliament highlights how drug crime is a major threat to EU security, health and democracy. In 2024, 24 people were murdered in Marseille and 49 in 2023, with many victims being minors. In 2025 alone, almost 90 killings linked to drug trafficking were recorded in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Europol says about 50 % of Europe’s most dangerous criminal networks are involved in drug trafficking, and 28 % of firearms seized are linked to drug crime.

Drug seizures in the EU are rising: in 2023 the EU seized 752 tonnes of cannabis and 419 tonnes of cocaine. Two‑point‑seven million young adults aged 15‑34 reported using drugs in the past year. Nearly 500 synthetic‑drug laboratories are dismantled each year, and there were almost 7 500 drug‑related deaths in 2023. About 70 % of drug seizures occur at ports, where traffickers exploit logistical and human vulnerabilities.

The Parliament urges Member States to strengthen law‑enforcement, border controls and judicial cooperation. It calls for more resources for police, customs, courts and anti‑money‑laundering units, and for better protection of port workers, fishers and dockers who are targeted by traffickers. It also stresses the need to tackle the financial power of drug networks through asset recovery, tax‑haven measures and the use of confiscated funds for social projects.

Finally, the Parliament stresses that prevention, public health and social resilience must be part of the drug strategy. It calls for early‑prevention programmes, better access to addiction treatment, and investment in deprived urban areas to reduce the social conditions that allow drug networks to thrive. It also urges the inclusion of victims’ families and civil‑society organisations in policy design and support, and it requests the European Commission to coordinate best practices and to ensure that EU funds are used to protect communities and strengthen democracy.