DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

1 June 2023
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Less cocaine seized in Rotterdam but more was found in Antwerp

January 10, 2023
Customs officials during a demonstration at Tuesday's presentation. Photo: Sem van der Wal ANP
Customs officials during a demonstration at Tuesday’s presentation. Photo: Sem van der Wal ANP

Police and customs officials discovered almost 47 tonnes of cocaine at Rotterdam port last year, well down on the 70 tonnes seized in 2021.

By contrast, seizures at Antwerp port reached a record 110 tonnes, compared with 90 tonnes in 2021, according to the Belgian authorities.

Dutch police did, however, arrest 95 people suspected of having a major role in drug smuggling via the port last year, up from 59 in 2021. However, fewer drugs runners – 251- were arrested while emptying containers or waiting to do so.

In total, officials seized drugs worth a ‘head-spinning €3.5 billion,’ officials said. Four tonnes of cocaine was also found at Vlissingen port, double the 2021 total.

Port officials have begun working together more with South American countries where the cocaine originates, and have stepped up screening and counter-corruption measures among port workers.

‘It is extremely important that we carry out more research into corruption,’ said port police chief Jan Janse. ‘We have removed people who were crucial drug smuggling links.’

Most drugs were hidden in fruit, but investigators also found the drug packed into hollow beams, between waste and in double-bottom containers. Officials also found 2,426 kilos of heroin, 3,149 kilos of cannabis and 100 kilos of ecstasy.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Crime Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Female prison inmates subjected to sexual harassment by guards
Council posts 'no sex' signs on nudist beach after complaints
Man suspected of selling microchips to Moscow is in Russia: AD
Gardens and a moonlight walk: 14 great things to do in June
Recession risk is real but economy is strong enough to cope: CPB
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyPoliticsHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DN
Podcast
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2023 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now