Antwerp’s status as a key entry point for cocaine being smuggled into Europe spurred authorities to enforce tougher controls. However, this has induced smugglers to find alternative routes, including via Belgium’s other ports.
A large share of cocaine that enters Europe comes through the port of Antwerp-Bruges. Large seizures and increased safety risks saw checks being stepped up and significant investments being made in customs technologies, with initial results showing this has reduced volumes of seized drugs.
However, customs officials warned that increased surveillance in Belgium’s largest port could see the problem being displaced elsewhere.
Already, it seems the issue is shifting to other places in Belgium: in the North Sea Port Ghent, a bulk port, 24 kg of cocaine was found during the inspection of a coal ship from Colombia last week. This marked the fourth time this year that cocaine packages were found on a coal ship from the Latin American country.
“I think we can conclude that this is in part a waterbed effect,” Director of Operations of the Federal Judicial Police East Flanders, Patrick Willocx, told The Brussels Times.
“Our colleagues in Antwerp have increased patrols, while customs are looking to control all suspicious containers that pass through the port. It makes sense for the drug mafia to look for alternatives to get their drugs into Europe,” the director explained.
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