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 seized in Port of Vigo, Galicia
Vigo, Spain (Ports Europe) November 20, 2024 – On Tuesday, the Customs Surveillance Service (SVA) and the Civil Guard discovered suspicious packages on...
5 tonnes of cocaine destined for Valencia port seized in Guayaquil
Guayaquil, Ecuador (Ports Europe) November 17, 2024 – More than five tonnes of cocaine were seized in Ecuador’s port of Guayaquil by the National...
1.2 tonnes of cocaine seized in Spain’s Algeciras port
Algeciras, Spain (Ports Europe) November 16, 2024 – Over 1,160 kg of cocaine hidden inside a shipping container that arrived at Spain’s port...
Four tonnes of cocaine seized off the Canary Islands
Puerto Naos, Canary Islands, Spain (Ports Europe) November 16, 2024 – Four tonnes of cocaine were seized on November 12 by Spanish authorities from a...
Two cocaine shipments, 720 kg and 720 kg, seized in Vlissingen port
Vlissingen, Netherlands (Ports Europe) November 15, 2024 – Two cocaine shipments in containers full of bananas from Ecuador were seized in the Netherlands’...
EU delegation visits Gioia Tauro port to see anti-drug efforts
Gioia Tauro, Italy (Ports Europe) November 14, 2024 – As part of the European Ports Alliance action, customs representatives from 16 EU countries have...
Senior policeman arrested, linked to Algeciras cocaine seizure
Madrid, Spain (Ports Europe) November 14, 2024 – The authorities have arrested Oscar Sánchez Gil, until recently the head of the fraud and anti-money...
Maltese police seize 146 kg of cocaine in Freeport
Birżebbuġa, Malta (Ports Europe) November 14, 2024 – The local police have seized 146 kg of cocaine in Malta Freeport. Two days ago, police stopped a...
Drug gang dismantled in Port of Malaga, 400 kg cocaine seized
Málaga, Spain (Ports Europe) November 13, 2024 – A joint operation of Customs Surveillance officers from the Tax Agency, the National Police and Civil...
UK authorities seize 400 kg cocaine from boat off Kent
London, United Kingdom (Ports Europe) November 12, 2024 – The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has said that on November 10, 2024, a fishing boat...
Risk Intelligence report: Narcotics smuggling – impact on commercial shipping
Hellerup, Denmark (Ports Europe) November 10, 2024 – The Narcotics smuggling intelligence report: Impact on commercial shipping focuses on cocaine...
More details about 13-ton cocaine seizure in Algeciras
Madrid, Spain (Ports Europe) November 7, 2024 – Agencia Tributaria and the national police have released more details about the 13-ton cocaine seizure on...
More than 4.5 tonnes of cocaine seized in Antwerp port
Antwerp, Belgium (Ports Europe) November 5, 2024 – More than 4.5 tonnes of cocaine, hidden in a container with bananas were seized by customs officials...
Authorities have seized 675 kilos of cocaine in Estepona, Malaga
Malaga, Spain (Ports Europe) November 5, 2024 – The authorities have seized 675 kilos of cocaine in Estepona, a resort town on the Costa del Sol in...
Spain Reclaims Position as Cocaine Gateway to Europe – InSight Crime
Washington DC, United States (Ports Europe) November 1, 2024 – A new report from InSight Crime claims that Spain has become, again, the main entry point...
40 kg cocaine seized at Port of Livorno
Livorno, Italy (Ports Europe) October 31, 2024 – The Guardia di Finanza and the Customs Agency have discovered 40 kg of cocaine in the Port of Livorno....
EU Drugs Agency signs agreement with Montenegro
Lisbon, Portugal (Ports Europe) October 29, 2024 – The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) signed a “Working Arrangement” with Montenegro on...
Italian-Colombian anti-drug operation leads to high profile arrests
Rome, Italy (Ports Europe) October 28, 2024 – Co-operation between the Italian authorities, Colombian law enforcement, and Europol has led to the arrests...
72.2 kg of cocaine seized in Tanger Med port and El Guerguerat border crossing
Tanger Med, Morocco (Ports Europe) October 28, 2024 – Morocco’s police seized more than 72.2 kg of cocaine in two separate security operations in...
790 kg of cocaine seized in Italy’s Gioia Tauro port
Gioia Tauro, Italy (Ports Europe) October 28, 2024 – 790 kg of cocaine was reported on October 25 as discovered by the financial police and customs officials...