Belgian authorities announced a record seizure of 116 tonnes of cocaine at the Antwerp port in 2023, marking a second consecutive year of breaking records.
This surge in cocaine demand within the EU is causing concerns, attributing outbreaks of violence in major port cities like Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Marseille to the drug trade. Antwerp’s port has become the primary entry point for Latin American cocaine cartels into Europe.
Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem revealed that five more tonnes were seized last year at the Zeebrugge port, part of the larger Antwerp-Bruges Port. He commended the efforts of thousands of employees across the country for their exceptional work in handling these extraordinary circumstances.
This announcement followed a significant anti-drug operation resulting in the arrest of 22 individuals, including three police officers, suspected of smuggling cocaine through Antwerp. The quantity of seized cocaine in Europe’s second-largest seaport increased from 110 tons in 2022, with Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama identified as the top-origin countries.
Europe has witnessed a rise in cocaine seizures, reaching 303 tonnes in 2021, according to the EU agency monitoring drugs and addiction. Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain accounted for 75% of these seizures. Belgian authorities express concern over the rapid infiltration of drug trafficking into society as foreign criminal organizations establish deep roots, bringing violence and ruthless operations.
Over the past four years, Antwerp has experienced numerous incidents, including grenade attacks and fires, often linked to gangs vying for dominance in the lucrative cocaine trade. Former justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne even lived in hiding due to concerns that drug gangs might target him.
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