About one third of all organised crime groups in the EU are involved in the production and/or distribution of illicit drugs. Criminal networks exploit the demand for drugs in the EU and generate huge profits, often trafficking different types of drugs. The value of the European opiates market is estimated at approximately EUR 12 billion. Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in the EU, followed by cocaine. Synthetic and narcotic drugs are big business and the EU is one of the largest and most valuable global markets for them.