Belgium and the Netherlands become cocaine import centers in Europe / Article

The Netherlands and Belgium have become the main cocaine supply centers in Europe. This is the conclusion of a recent Europol report. Using the large volumes of cargo in the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg, smugglers supply large quantities of cocaine hidden in sea containers. Europol points out that the increase in cocaine exports is also due to the political situation in Colombia.

Until now, Spain has been identified as the main source of cocaine imports into Europe, but in recent years other countries have taken the lead more north.

In the latest The Europol report statesthat various groups, especially from Colombia, choose the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands or the port of Hamburg in Germany as the main point of entry for drugs into Europe.

However, the absolute leader is the port of Antwerp in Belgium, from where the drugs are transported to the Netherlands and other European countries. Last year alone, 65.6 tonnes of cocaine were infected in Antwerp.

???? Out now: in-depth analysis of the cocaine trade in Europe: more violent, diverse and competitive criminal activity. Read more in the Cocaine Insights Report, launched today by #Europol and @UNODC.
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— Europol (@Europol) September 7, 2021

Europol also explains that cocaine supplies to Europe have risen sharply since the Colombian government signed a peace agreement in 2016 with FARC, which controlled the tree-growing regions. Cocaine production and exports to Europe have now been taken over by various other groups.

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