Ketamine smuggling sees 350% surge in illicit shipments.

Illicit shipments of ketamine have surged 350% in the US since 2017, with seizures rising from 55 to 247 in 2022, according to a study by researchers in New York and Florida. The annual weight of street ketamine seized during busts rose from 127lbs to 1,550lbs. The drug is seeing a return to popularity as a party drug and as an off-label treatment for mental health issues. The rise in seizures is being driven by more people using the drug at raves and drug enforcement agencies being more vigilant. There are concerns that illegal ketamine may be contaminated with fentanyl, leading to overdose.