More than 4.7 tons of cocaine seized in weeks around Christmas

Part of one haul. Photo: OM.nl

Customs officials seized more than 4.7 tonnes of cocaine at the port of Rotterdam between 24 December and 4 January.

In addition, 34 people were arrested, including a 16-year-old boy. Most of them were brought in to remove drugs from shipping containers after docking.

The first arrest took place on Christmas Eve, when authorities saw someone leave the port and enter a vehicle with “two well-filled bags”. was discovered.

The next day, more drugs were found in containers containing frozen fruit juices from Brazil and a consignment of bananas from Ecuador.

The largest seizure took place on Tuesday, when cocaine was found hidden in three containers. One of them occurred in Chile, where her 1.7 tons of drugs were hidden between shoe boxes.

In September 2021, European police organization Europol reported that the increased use of shipping containers to hide drugs had made the bulk ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg the new epicenter of the European cocaine market. announced.

Antwerp is the largest port of arrival for cocaine, but most of the drugs “are likely to be aimed at organizations operating outside the Netherlands where cocaine is distributed to further European destinations,” Europol said. Stated.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2023/01/cocaine-seizures-top-4-7-tonnes-in-weeks-around-christmas/ More than 4.7 tons of cocaine seized in weeks around Christmas

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