Data show a growing importance of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid related substances among “ecstasy” precursors and an ongoing concentration of “ecstasy” precursor seizures in Europe.

• Historically, 3,4-MDP-2-P, also known as piperonyl methyl ketone (PMK), has been the primary precursor chemical used for the manufacture of MDMA (also known as “ecstasy”); however, there has been a shift over the last two decades from the purchase of PMK to the purchase of various pre-precursors to manufacture PMK and then “ecstasy”. The changes in the share of pre-precursors in global “ecstasy” precursors seizures suggest an ongoing shift by traffickers towards chemicals that are less strictly controlled in order to avoid detection.
• For most years over the last decade, various pre-precursors related to 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid and its esters dominated seizures of “ecstasy” precursors. Between 2015 and 2019, it was mainly 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid and its methyl ester until they came under international control in November 2019. After which, 3,4,MDP-2-P ethyl glycidate (the ethyl ester) dominated between 2022 and 2024 (placed under internation al control in 2024).
• Most seizures of "ecstasy" precursors (expressed in MDMA equivalents) between 2020 and 2024 were reported by Europe (more than 90 per cent), reflecting ongoing concentration of "ecstasy" manufacture in this region.
• Nonetheless, results derived from precursor seizure statistics must be interpreted with caution as the number of countries reporting "ecstasy" precursor seizures is limited. For the year 2024 only 12 Governments reported seizures of one or more internationally controlled “ecstasy” precursor.