Illegal Drugs & Smuggling
The transport of illegal drugs through European ports and the measures taken by port authorities, national governments and international organisations to counter the efforts of smugglers. This includes news about the European Union and Europol, and illegal drug discoveries in docked ships and ports.
Cocaine bound for Belgium seized in Asuncion, Paraguay
Asuncion, Paraguay (Ports Europe) July 25, 2024 – The authorities in Paraguay on Tuesday announced the largest cocaine seizure in the country’s...
660 kg of cocaine in two seizures in Spain’s Algeciras port
Algeciras, Spain (Ports Europe) July 19, 2024 – A criminal network importing cocaine from South America hidden in double bottoms of metal containers has...
More than 4 tonnes of cocaine for Antwerp seized in Paraguay
Asuncion, Paraguay (Ports Europe) July 18, 2024 – More than 4 tonnes of cocaine bound for Belgium’s port of Antwerp were discovered on July 16 by...
6.23 tonnes of cocaine for Germany seized in Ecuador
Guayaquil, Ecuador (Ports Europe) July 16, 2024 – 6.23 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a container with bananas, was seized in Posorja deep-water port, 85 km...
15 kg of cocaine seized in Finland’s port of Naantali
Naantali, Finland (Ports Europe) July 15, 2024 – Finnish customs officials have seized 15 kg of cocaine with a street value of 2.25 million euro from a...
Cocaine seized at Port of Haifa
Haifa, Israel (Ports Europe) July 12, 2024 – The authorities have seized cocaine valued at 25 million euros at Haifa port. Last month, police seized 16...
49% less cocaine seized in Belgium’s Antwerp port in H1 24
Antwerp, Belgium (Ports Europe) July 11, 2024 – Belgian customs seized 22.3 tonnes of cocaine in Antwerp Bruges port in the first half of the year, which...
Cocaine seizures in the Netherlands declined 42% in H1, 2024
The Hague, The Netherlands (Ports Europe) July 10, 2024 – The Netherlands’ customs and law enforcement officers seized 42% less cocaine in the first...
3.2 tonnes of cocaine destined for Russia seized in Ecuador
Machala, Ecuador (Ports Europe) July 10, 2024 – Nearly 3.2 tonnes of cocaine hidden in crates of bananas were seized by the Ecuadorian police in the...
Holidaymaker finds ton of cocaine on Borkum island beach
Hamburg, Germany (Ports Europe) July 7, 2024 – Last April, a holidaymaker discovered a number of packages on the beach on the East Frisian island of...
European Union Drugs Agency signs agreement with Ecuador
Lisbon, Portugal (Ports Europe) July 3, 2024 – The new European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) has signed a “working arrangement” with Ecuador....
New European Union Drugs Agency launched
Lisbon, Portugal (Ports Europe) July 3, 2024 – Officials are in Lisbon today to inaugurate the new European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). The new...
Two Libya-bound military drones seized in Port of Gioia Tauro
Gioia Tauro, Italy (Ports Europe) July 2, 2024 – In an incredible event in the Port of Gioia Tauro, the parts of two Chinese-made military drones...
Cannabis resin seized in Port of Rades, Tunisia
Radès, Tunisia (Ports Europe) July 2, 2024 – The Interior Ministry announced on Sunday that the authorities seized 1,050 bundles of cannabis resin and...
251 kg of cocaine seized after leaving Portugal’s port of Setubal
Setubal, Portugal (Ports Europe) June 30, 2024 – Some 251 kg of cocaine transported in two sea containers, which entered Portugal through the North Atlantic...
3,000 kg of cocaine found in a crane in Moerdijk port
Moerdijk, Netherlands (Ports Europe) June 30, 2024 – Some 3,000 kg of cocaine were discovered by harbour police hidden in a telescopic crane in a...
Peru strengthens the fight against drug trafficking in its ports
Lima, Peru (Ports Europe) June 26, 2024 – A cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior of Peru and la Guardia Civil española (Spanish Civil...
Fake luxury clothing & accessories seized in Trieste port
Trieste, Italy (Ports Europe) June 25, 2024 – In recent weeks, officials of Dogane e Monopoli Agency, Dogane di Trieste and Guardia di Finanza have...
€13 million worth of cannabis resin found in Malta Freeport
Marsaxlokk, Malta (Ports Europe) June 25, 2024 – The authorities have seized €13 million worth of cannabis resin hidden in industrial ovens in a...
3,600 kg cocaine in bananas seized in Vlissingen port
Vlissingen, The Netherlands (Ports Europe) June 21, 2024 – Customs officials at the Netherlands’ port of Vlissingen seized a record 3,600 kg of cocaine,...