- The National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned that synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes, have been linked to 1,000 deaths across the UK in two-and-a-half years, posing the most significant threat in the battle against illegal drugs.
- NCA Director General Graeme Biggar said that half of homicides, thefts, and robberies in Britain are connected to drugs, highlighting the evolving and harmful nature of the drug threat.
- The use of ketamine has seen a significant increase, with a tenfold rise in adults needing medical treatment over 10 years and a tripling in under-18s in three years.
- Organised crime is becoming more sophisticated due to technology, leading to an increase in cyber attacks on businesses and a rise in child abuse referrals from tech companies, reaching 92,000 in 2025.
- The NCA also noted that illegal migration is expected to increase due to the conflict in Iran, with the Horn of Africa replacing Vietnam and Albania as the primary source of migrants in 2025.
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