Dutch customs authorities have seized nearly 38,000 kg of cocaine in the country’s ports in 2024, marking a 40% drop from the previous year when 57,000 kg was intercepted.
Despite the decline in total volume, the number of cocaine shipments intercepted has slightly increased, suggesting that criminals may be adapting their methods.
The majority of cocaine seizures took place at the Port of Rotterdam, the world’s 12th-largest port, which saw a significant decrease in cocaine volumes. In 2024, 26,000 kg was seized at Rotterdam, down from 45,000 kg in 2023.
This decrease, though notable, is part of a broader trend across Dutch ports. Authorities have described this shift as “striking,” especially considering that smaller shipments have been intercepted more frequently.
Dutch customs officials suspect that smugglers are attempting to reduce their risk by spreading drugs across multiple smaller consignments rather than relying on large-scale shipments.
One of the most common methods used for smuggling remains the rip-off technique, where smugglers hide drugs within legitimate cargo. Bananas, in particular, have emerged as a favorite smuggling vehicle.
Perishable goods like bananas have been used in numerous high-profile busts, including Spain’s largest-ever drug seizure at Algeciras in November 2024.
Despite the drop in seizures, Belgian authorities have reported similar trends. In Belgium, customs seized just over 44,000 kg of cocaine in 2024, a sharp decline from the staggering 116,000 kg found at the Port of Antwerp in 2023.
Both Belgian and Dutch authorities have stepped up their efforts to curb drug smuggling, including stricter protocols for releasing containers and enhanced screening of port workers.
Bob van den Berghe, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s regional coordinator for the container control programme, pointed out that Latin American countries had increased their drug seizures destined for Antwerp, with Ecuador, Sierra Leone, and the Dominican Republic being among the most frequent source countries for the drugs.
In response to these challenges, Belgium and the Netherlands have strengthened their cooperation with Latin American authorities.
The Netherlands and Ecuador recently signed a customs treaty, and both countries have posted customs attaches in Latin America, with Belgium sending attaches to Brazil and Panama.
These international efforts aim to bolster the fight against the organized crime groups responsible for the cocaine trade.
While the reduction in seizures may appear to signal progress, experts warn that the drug trade may simply be shifting its focus.
Authorities are concerned that, with heightened scrutiny in the major European ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, smugglers may increasingly turn to southern European and Scandinavian ports as alternative routes for their illicit shipments.
This evolving landscape presents a significant challenge for authorities, who continue to adapt and expand their international collaborations. As smuggling tactics evolve and criminal networks diversify their methods, the fight against the global cocaine trade remains an ongoing struggle for law enforcement agencies in Europe and beyond.