A new United Nations report released Thursday reveals that the global cocaine trade is expanding at an unprecedented pace, setting new records in production, trafficking, and use.

According to the World Drug Report 2025 by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), global cocaine production rose by roughly one-third in 2023, reaching a record 3,708 tons. The increase is driven largely by a surge in coca bush cultivation in Colombia and updated data showing higher-than-expected crop yields—about 50% higher than in 2022.

Cocaine Use Surges to 25 Million Worldwide

The number of global cocaine users has also climbed significantly, reaching 25 million people in 2023, up from 17 million a decade earlier.

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A drone view shows bundles of cocaine, as a part of high seas drug seizures by the Salvadoran Naval Force, presented during a press conference at a base in San Luis la Herradura, El Salvador June 23, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

“Production, seizures, and use of cocaine all hit new highs in 2023, making cocaine the world’s fastest-growing illicit drug market,” said the Vienna-based UNODC in a statement accompanying the report.

The largest markets for cocaine remain North America, Western and Central Europe, and South America, based on user statistics and data derived from wastewater analysis, a growing tool in drug surveillance.

Synthetic Drug Market Also Expands Rapidly

In addition to cocaine, the UNODC report highlights the growing presence of synthetic drugs, particularly amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) such as methamphetamine and amphetamine.

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Ghana’s National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) prepare to destroy seized cocaine worth millions following a court order, in Accra, Ghana June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko

Seizures of ATS reached a record high in 2023, accounting for nearly half of all synthetic drug seizures globally. Synthetic opioids, including the highly potent fentanyl, also remain a major concern.

The report attributes the rise of synthetic drugs to low production costs and reduced risk of detection, which make them attractive to traffickers and producers worldwide.

With increasing production, diversified trafficking routes, and rising consumption, international agencies are facing renewed challenges in tackling what the UNODC now calls the most dynamic and fastest-growing segment of global illicit drug markets.