The number of people using drugs worldwide has climbed to an estimated 331 million in 2024, marking a 34% increase over the past decade, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2026, released on Friday to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The report found that 6.2% of the global population aged 15 to 64 used drugs in 2024, up from 5.2% in 2014. The UNODC warned that organized criminal groups are rapidly reshaping global drug markets by introducing more dangerous synthetic drugs, opening new trafficking routes and expanding into emerging markets.
As the global drug trade continues to evolve, Türkiye has stepped up efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime through a series of nationwide operations targeting criminal networks and illicit drug production.
The campaign has also included high-profile drug investigations involving celebrities, including singers, actors and social media influencers, as authorities seek to tighten enforcement while raising public awareness of the risks associated with drug use.
According to the Interior Ministry, authorities carried out 17,188 operations targeting drug manufacturing and trafficking between Jan. 1 and April 25 this year, seizing 16.8 tons of narcotics, 51.2 million drug pills, and 49,000 cannabis and skunk plants. Authorities have also intensified operations against international trafficking networks.
