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.
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...
Record 13 tonnes of cocaine seized in Algeciras port
Algeciras, Spain (Ports Europe) October 26, 2024 – An all-time record of 13 tonnes of cocaine were seized in the Spanish port of Algeciras in the province...
334 kg of cocaine in bananas seized in Vlissingen port
Vlissingen, The Netherlands (Ports Europe) October 19, 2024 – The customs special task force (TBB) at the Netherlands’ port of Vlissingen seized 334 kg of...
Antwerp and Rotterdam fight the “PIN code fraud”
Rotterdam, Netherlands (Ports Europe) October 16, 2024 – Europe’s two largest container ports – Netherlands’ Rotterdam and Belgium’s Antwerp...
Possible precursors for chemical weapons, nerve agents seized in Barcelona port
Barcelona, Spain (Ports Europe) October 16, 2024 – Spanish police arrested four people suspected of organising a sanctions-busting network after customs...
Another large cocaine seizure linked to port of Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany (Ports Europe) October 15, 2024 – A large quantity of cocaine was seized during a raid in Neu Wulmstorf on the Hamburg city limits by German...
Authorities seize cocaine in Rosslare Port, Ireland
Rosslare, Ireland (Ports Europe) October 14, 2024 – In the last few days, a total of 66kg of cocaine has been seized by the Gardaí and Revenue in...
Cocaine seized in Port of Gioia Tauro
Gioia Tauro, Italy (Ports Europe) October 10, 2024 – The Provincial Command of Reggio Calabria and the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM-Agenzia delle...
Authorities seize 3,000 kg of kratom at the Port of Koper
Koper, Slovenia (Ports Europe) October 8, 2024 – The authorities have seized 3,000 kilos of kratom at the Port of Koper. Kratom is a herbal extract which...
4 tonnes of cocaine seized near Canary Islands
Puerto Naos, Spain (Ports Europe) October 6, 2024 – Some 4,000 kg of cocaine were seized by Spanish authorities from the Tanzania-flagged cargo ship Ras 240...
Scanners and 50 extra staff in Zeebrugge port against drug smuggling
Zeebrugge, Belgium (Ports Europe) October 4, 2024 – 50 additional staff members will be employed and two mobile cargo scanners will be acquired in...
Cocaine destined for Belgium seized in Dominican Rep
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Ports Europe) October 2, 2024 – On September 30, the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) said that the shipment...
Cocaine worth €100 million seized in Hamburg port
Hamburg, Germany (Ports Europe) September 29, 2024 – More than 2 tonnes of cocaine were seized near Germany’s North Sea port of Hamburg on September 25...
180 kg of cocaine in 4 containers seized in Rotterdam port
Rotterdam, Netherlands (Ports Europe) September 28, 2024 – A total of 180 kg of cocaine in four containers were seized by Dutch customs officers at...