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.
1,575 kg of cocaine seized in Dutch Vlissingen port
Vlissingen, Netherlands (Ports Europe) November 30, 2024 – 1,575 kg of cocaine, valued at 118 million euros was seized in the Dutch port of Vlissingen on...
Cargo theft in Italy increased 400% in two years
Rome, Italy (Ports Europe) November 30, 2024 – There is an increasing threat to the Italian supply chain by organised crime and its sophisticated theft...
Second cocaine seizure in Malta Freeport in November
Birżebbuġa, Malta (Ports Europe) November 29, 2024 – 100 kg of cocaine were seized by police in the Mediterranean Sea port of Malta Freeport on November...
Europol breaks up cocaine ring following Ploče seizure in 2021
Brussels, Belgium (Ports Europe) November 27, 2024 – A long-running cross-border investigation has led to the takedown of a large-scale drug trafficking...
400 kg of cocaine hidden in two containers seized in port of Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain (Ports Europe) November 26, 2024 – Customs Surveillance Officers of the Tax Agency, and agents of the National Police, have seized 358...
Nearly 5 tons of cocaine seized in Antwerp port
Antwerp, Belgium (Ports Europe) November 25, 2024 – Last Friday, the local authorities seized 4.78 tons of cocaine hidden in containers at the port. As...
87 kg of cocaine found in truck, Port of Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia, Italy (Ports Europe) November 25, 2024 – Last Wednesday, the authorities seized 87 kg of cocaine in a truck which had arrived from...
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 755 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...