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.
Seven tons of cocaine arrives via Port of Vigo, Spain
Vigo, Spain (Ports Europe) December 8, 2023 – The four people were arrested last Tuesday after the discovery of a 7.2-ton stash of cocaine in a frozen...
Authorities seize 720 kilos of cocaine in Port of Málaga
Málaga, Spain (PortSEurope) November 6, 2023 – At the end of October, eight people were arrested in an operation that resulted in the seizure of 720...
Fundación Valenciaport starts work on the METEOR project
València, Spain (PortSEurope) November 1, 2023 – Fundación Valenciaport has started work on the METEOR project, an initiative that seeks to increase...
European Commission factsheet highlights drug trafficking issues
Brussels, Belgium (PortSEurope) October 19, 2023 – This week, the European Commission (EC) published its Communication on the EU Roadmap to Fight Drug...
Police find 60 kg of cocaine in Port of Piraeus
Piraeus, Greece (PortSEurope) October 18, 2023 – Following a month-long operation, police in Piraeus have discovered 60 kg of cocaine. The police believe...
Update: European ports are flooded with drugs – How the EC will fight this
Brussels, Belgium (PortSEurope) October 18, 2023 – The European Commission (EC) announced its hotly anticipated action plan to combat drug trafficking in the...
European ports are flooded with drugs – EC to act today
Brussels, Belgium (PortSEurope) October 18, 2023 – The European Commission (EC) will announce today a hotly anticipated action plan to combat drug...
Valencia hosts SMAUG meeting – underwater threat detection
València, Spain (PortSEurope) October 4, 2023 – Earlier this week, the kick-off meeting of the SMAUG – Smart Maritime and Underwater...
Huge cocaine find in Naples
Naples, Italy (Ports Europe) September 13, 2023 – The authorities has seized 122.8 kg of cocaine inside a commercial warehouse in San Giorgio a Cremano...
Spain’s largest cocaine seizure in the port of Algeciras – 9.5 tonnes
Algeciras, Spain (Ports Europe) August 25, 2023 – 9,436 kilograms of cocaine, the largest haul ever seized in Spain, were found in a refrigerated container...
150 kilos cocaine found in Port of Gioria Tauro
Gioia Tauro, Italy (Ports Europe) August 18, 2023 – Approximately 150 kilos of very pure cocaine were seized by the Fiamme Gialle in the port area of...
Baku and Turkmenbashi ports to cooperate on illegal goods control
Baku, Azerbaijan (Ports Europe) August 10, 2023 – Baku International Seaport and Turkmenbashi International Seaport have signed an agreement to...
Cocaine found on two ships in Vado Ligure
Genoa, Italy (Ports Europe) August 8, 2023 – Local law enforcement and customs officials have seized two quantities of cocaine in ships in Vado Ligure....
Large drug haul in Malta Freeport
Marsaxlokk, Malta (Ports Europe) August 7, 2023 – The local authorities have discovered 97 kilos of cocaine with a street value of over €11 million on...
Gioia Tauro is the main seaport for drug smuggling in Italy
Rome, Italy (Ports Europe) July 31, 2023 – The annual report on drug addiction in Italy in 2022, drawn up by the department for anti-drug policies, has...
Afghan company to invest $50 million in Anzali port, Iran
Anzali, Iran (PortSEurope) July 12, 2023 – An unnamed Afghan company will invest $50 million in the construction of three wharves in the Iranian Caspian Sea...
Huge cocaine haul found in Port of Gioia Tauro
Gioia Tauro, Italy (PortSEurope) May 16, 2023 – Media reports say that police in Italy have seized 2.7 tons of cocaine hidden among 78 tons of bananas in...