Interpol’s latest synthetic‑drug operation, conducted from 18 May to 4 June across 17 countries, resulted in 7,247 seizures valued at over US$1.1 billion and removed an estimated 89.6 million fatal doses from markets.

The raid seized a total of 650 tonnes of drugs, precursors and pharmaceutical products, with ketamine accounting for 17 tonnes – about 40 % of the seizure’s total value – and becoming the most seized synthetic drug, overtaking methamphetamine for the first time.

Interpol linked the rise in non‑medical ketamine use to lower street prices and simpler manufacturing compared with other illicit substances.

The operation also uncovered a growing market for vape‑based drugs, seizing 724 kg of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) – the largest quantity ever reported – in liquid form intended for vaping, alongside liquid cannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids.

Indonesia reported the seizure of 1,975 litres of etomidate, a drug traditionally used for anaesthesia that is now being abused recreationally through vaping, highlighting the diversification of synthetic drug types.

Authorities in Australia and the United States intercepted numerous small parcels mislabeled in customs declarations, tracing a pattern that uses Europe as a secondary repackaging hub for shipments destined for Western markets.

The operation identified Southeast Asia, particularly the Mekong region, as the epicentre of synthetic drug manufacturing, with large‑scale production and trafficking networks extending to Europe and beyond.

In Myanmar, the single largest individual seizure recorded was 10.6 million Ya Ba tablets – a methamphetamine‑caffeine blend – underscoring the continued presence of traditional stimulant markets alongside emerging synthetics.

While opioids comprised only 7.3 tonnes of the total seizure volume, they accounted for a disproportionate share of fatal doses, with fentanyl alone representing 63.7 million lethal doses.

Kenya’s National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has flagged ketamine and other emerging synthetics as substances of abuse, reflecting the global trend identified by Interpol.