Nine Arrested and 280 Kilograms of Cocaine Seized from Container at Antwerp Port
Antwerp port authorities have seized nearly 280 kilograms of cocaine from a container carrying fruit that arrived from Ecuador. Netherlands and Belgian law enforcement agencies conducted a joint operation which led to the arrest of nine people, three in Belgium and six in the Netherlands. The Belgian authorities stated that it was one of the largest cocaine hauls ever seized in Antwerp with a street value of around €13.5 million ($15.9 million).
A Consignment of Bananas
According to the Belgian police, the cargo was a consignment of bananas that arrived in Antwerp on August 13 aboard a ship arriving from Ecuador. The customs officials from the Brabo Antwerp Customs discovered the drugs in a compartment that was placed in the container meant to transport fruit. They found bulk packages wrapped in plastic under a false floor.
Joint Investigation
The operation was held in close cooperation between the Dutch and Belgian police with the involvement of the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM). The drugs were transported to an empty company hall in Rotterdam. The Dutch police arrested four suspects on August 14th hiding in the hall while unloading a container from the warehouse. On August 16th, a Dutch SWAT team arrested two more suspects in the Rotterdam area.
Arrests
The suspects include three Dutch and six Belgians, who range in age from 20 to 46 years. The authorities believe that they all belonged to the same criminal organization specializing in drug trafficking. According to the Belgian police, one of the suspects had visited Costa Rica last month, and another had flown to South America. The suspects will soon appear before the pre-trial judge.
Antwerp – A Major Drug Hub
Antwerp is considered one of the busiest and most crucial ports in the world, where over a quarter of Europe’s container traffic is handled. In addition to ongoing concerns about organized crime and drug trafficking, the authorities in Belgium have faced concerns about the smuggling of illicit materials, including guns and chemicals for homemade explosives.
Summary
A significant amount of cocaine was seized from a container carrying fruit from Ecuador by the Belgian customs officials. The drug bust later led to the arrests of nine people. The cooperation between the Dutch and Belgian police played a significant role in ensuring the success of the operation. It is believed that the suspects all belonged to the same criminal organization engaged in drug trafficking. #cocaine #drugseized #Antwerppolice #drugbust #organizedcrime #drugtrafficking #Belgium #Netherlands #cocaineinship. #NEWS