Cheap cocaine in the world. How peace in Colombia sparked a "white tsunami" in Europe

In a time of rising inflation and expensiveness, one thing surprisingly cheap – cocaine. According to the latest reports, including the prestigious German magazine Der Spiegel, prices of this drug are falling worldwide, and Europe is struggling with a wave of supersupply called the "white tsunami". What does the 2016 Colombia Peace Agreement have to do with this? It turns out that the peace to end the civil war paradoxically drove the boom into the production of coke. In this article we will look at the causes, statistics and consequences of this phenomenon – all based on reliable sources and expert analyses.

History of Peace Agreement: From War to Drug Boom

In 2016, Colombia celebrated the historic moment – the signing of a peace agreement between the government and rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). This arrangement, for which President Juan Manuel Santos was awarded the Nobel Prize, was to end a 50-year conflict that consumed hundreds of thousands of victims. FARC, a Marxist partisan, controlled vast areas of the country, including coke plantations – the main raw material for cocaine production.

However, as Der Spiegel notes in his 2016 article, peace created a power vacuum. The withdrawal of the rebels allowed the expansion of other criminal groups such as Clan del Golfo, and small farmers who began to mass-breed coke. Instead of a decline in drug production, it grew rapidly. The UN confirms: the area of coke cultivation increased from around 50 000 hectares in 2013 to 171 000 in 2017 – it is an increase of over 73%. By 2022 it reached a record of 230 thousand hectares, corresponding to an area of over 2.3 thousand square kilometres.

Colombia, producing 70-80% of the world's cocaine (about 1.7 thousand tonnes per year in 2023), became the epicentre of the global drug market. Peace, instead of restricting trade, opened the door to uncontrolled expansion.

Price decrease: From 100 Euro to 30-50 Euro per gram

This overproduction results in a drastic fall in cocaine prices on the streets of Europe. In Frankfurt, according to the addiction department, the prices for dealers range between 30 and 50 Euros per gram – only a few years ago it was 100 Euros. Across Europe wholesale and street prices have fallen by 40-50% since 2016. Der Spiegel describes this as a "cocain boom", where oversupply outweighs demand, forcing cartels to cut prices in the fight for the market.

In Germany, according to an analysis of 2025, the share of cocaine addicts in Bavaria increased from 50% to 68%, ahead of heroin as the most popular hard substance. Experts speak of a "white tsunami" – a wave of cheap cocaine that floods the continent, reaching new social groups, including young professionals and students.

The situation is similar in Poland, although the price decrease is not so drastic yet. However, customs have seen an increase in attempts to smuggle – in recent years several transports of approximately 3 kg were intercepted at the borders with Spain and Germany. According to experts, cheaper cocaine will soon reach us, changing the dynamics of the market.

"White Tsunami" Consequences: Increase in Addiction and Crime

Cheaper cocaine is not just "good news" for users – it is a serious social problem. Oversupply leads to increased consumption, which burdens health care systems. In Europe, the number of medical incidents associated with overdoses and poisonings is increasing. Cartels, fighting for influence, exacerbate violence in ports such as Antwerp in Belgium or Rotterdam in the Netherlands, where record quantities of drugs are captured.

Experts warn: Europe is not prepared on this scale. As Der Spiegel quotes: "Cartels flooded Germany with cheap cocaine". This is a systemic change – cocaine becomes a "cheap luxury" available to a wider group, which can lead to opioid-like epidemics in the US.

In Colombia, the government tries to fight the problem through alternative crop programs for farmers, but political chaos, as described in the latest article Der Spiegel of August 2025, complicates the situation. President Gustavo Petro, left-wing leader, proposes decriminalization, arguing that "cocain is not worse than whisky", but it is a controversial approach.

What's next? Perspectives and Warnings

Paradoxically, peace in Colombia, which was supposed to bring stability, became a catalyst for the global drug crisis. UN and EU experts call for international cooperation: strengthening border control, education programmes and support for Colombian farmers. Without this, the "white tsunami" can intensify.

Estimated average death of drug users

The table below shows a list of 15 psychoactive substances ranked from the shortest estimated mean age of death, assuming daily use and the first dose at 18 years of age. Data comes from unofficial sources (e.g. discussions on social platforms like Digging) and are estimated to be based on general statistics on mortality among addicts. Real values may vary according to factors such as purity of substances, access to health care or lifestyle. For context, according to studies (e.g. Omni Calculator based on CDC data), chronic use of heroin may shorten life by about 30 years, which corresponds to death at age ~48 years at startup in 18 (presuming life expectancy ~78 years). Similarly to other substances: methamphetamine ~17 years loss, cocaine ~13 years old, alcohol ~13 years. Always consult reliable medical sources and remember that every use carries a risk.

Source:Der Spiegel, UN report.