Dutch customs seize US$143 million worth cocaine from containers in Rotterdam

Dutch customs caught around 1.6 tonnes of cocaine being smuggled in a shipment carrying banana, cement and cocoa beans in the Port of Rotterdam.

The seized drugs have a reported street value of around US$143 million (€127 million) and had been concealed in three separate containers.

Prosecutors stated that the first container arrived from Ecuador and was carrying a banana shipment to a company in Barendrecht, near Rotterdam.

Speaking on the route taken by the second container, prosecutors said, “The drugs in the second container were found in a load of cocoa beans, also from Ecuador, but which had transited through Colombia and then arrived via Antwerp. “

The third container had five sports bags full of drugs and was destined for Portugal.

2021 has been one of the best years for Rotterdam’s drug enforcement authorities in terms of seized contraband. The total seized drugs amount to 68 tonnes, up from the 49 tons of 2020. And, most of them arrived in the Netherlands via containers at Rotterdam.