Estonian Tax and Customs Board prevented nearly 79 kilograms of drugs from reaching the black market in nine months

Estonian Tax and Customs Board prevented nearly 79 kilograms of drugs from reaching the black market in nine months

According to Vitali Zajarin, Head of the ETCB’s Drug Enforcement Unit, the increase in the amount of new psychoactive substances seized is particularly noteworthy. “In the first nine months of 2025, the ETCB seized approximately 2.4 kilograms of new psychoactive substances. During the same period this year, the amount had already reached nearly 5.3 kilograms. Users may not know the composition, potency or effects of these substances, which makes their use particularly risky and increases the risk of poisoning and overdose,” Zajarin said.

During the first nine months of this year, the largest amount seized by the ETCB was cannabis and cannabis products, totalling 42.7 kilograms. Nearly 20 kilograms of GHB and its analogues were seized, along with 5.3 kilograms of new psychoactive substances and 4.9 kilograms of cocaine.

Depending on the substance, its purity, dosage and method of use, the quantities of narcotic drugs seized by the ETCB could, by estimate, have supplied hundreds of thousands of individual doses. New synthetic psychoactive substances are particularly dangerous, as even very small amounts can cause serious harm to health or lead to an overdose.

“Every intercepted consignment or shipment means that dangerous substances are prevented from being illegally transported across the border and reaching the black market. The ETCB’s task is to detect, prevent and investigate cross-border drug smuggling, working closely with law enforcement authorities in Estonia and other countries,” Zajarin added.