Report: Czechia has highest number of meth labs in Europe

According to the Czech National Anti-Narcotics Center (NPC), the Czech Republic leads in the number of small labs producing meth in Europe. However, cheaper "Mexican meth" – made with slightly different chemicals – is becoming increasingly prevalent, imported from the Netherlands and Belgium along the border with Germany.

The report also reveals that methamphetamine remains the most commonly used drug in the country, along with marijuana. Police officials from the NPC state that foreigners are heavily involved in the illegal trade of Czech-produced meth, with some of it being used for personal consumption and the rest being sold to regular customers, mostly from the Czech Republic and neighboring countries. 

Small labs typically produce around 50 grams of the drug per cycle, and there are reportedly hundreds of these labs scattered across the country.

The police have also cracked down on larger meth labs that mainly produce the drug for export. However, in recent years, a significant amount of so-called Mexican meth has been imported into European ports, particularly from Mexico, as well as some African and Middle Eastern countries. 

Despite the lower price, there is not much demand for the Mexican meth in the Czech Republic, as users claim it is of lower quality compared to the Czech-produced version. The NPC reports that Mexican meth costs CZK 375,000 to CZK 400,000 per kilogram, while Czech-produced meth, known as Pervitin, is sold for CZK 500,000 to CZK 600,000 per kilogram. 

Cases handled by the National Anti-Drug Headquarters show that drug tourism is prevalent at all Czech borders, with drugs being exported to neighboring countries like Slovakia and Poland at discounted prices. The Czechs also have a significant influence on the drug trade in border regions of Germany.

In 2023, the police prosecuted 3,415 people in connection with drug crimes, a number similar to the previous year. Most of those prosecuted were Czechs, with only 330 coming from abroad, mostly from Slovakia. The highest number of cases were reported in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region, with the lowest in the Zlín region. The most common offenses were for the illegal production and handling of drugs, followed by drug possession for personal use.

A study last year by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction found that Czechia continues to have the highest concentration of methamphetamine use in Europe, following a large-scale analysis of wastewater across Europe. The cities of Ostrava, Prague, and Karlovy Vary were found to have the highest rates of illegal meth abuse in Europe.