Drug gangs’ expansion into cocaine and ecstasy

TURKISH criminal groups, which control the trafficking of heroin to Ireland and much of Europe, are expanding their business to other drugs, according to the annual report of Europol.

The European Union police agency said Turkish gangs, in partnership with Albanian criminal groups and others, were increasingly involved in the trafficking of cocaine and ecstasy.

In their 2003 annual report, Europol said a west African group had emerged as a trafficker of substantial amounts of cocaine into member states.