Kripos reports rising potency and seizures of cannabis, cocaine and benzodiazepines

According to the head of Kripos' drug analysis section, Kari Frey Solvik, cannabis seizures this year amount to more than three thousand kilograms across 4,600 operations, the same number of raids as last year but with twice the volume. The potency of seized cannabis and the market hashish has risen sharply compared with a decade ago. Cocaine seizures have also climbed, with Oslo showing a notably higher proportion of cocaine in overall drug busts than the rest of the country.

Benzodiazepine tablets seized have hit a historic high, reflecting a surge in the number of pills confiscated. Additionally, authorities are encountering an increase in e-cigarette products marketed with colorful designs that claim to contain THC, though testing often reveals more potent synthetic cannabinoids. Solvik links the larger seizures to intensified police focus on organized crime, which frequently involves drug trafficking.