Belgian customs authorities announced today that they have seized 900 kilos of cocaine at the port of Antwerp. The drugs were hidden in containers of cocoa beans from Colombia.
The cocaine was distributed in bags identical to those containing the declared goods. The seizure took place on 16 June and the value of the drugs is estimated at 45 million euros, Belgian customs authorities said in a statement.
The port of Antwerp is a major gateway for cocaine into the European market. Drugs are often detected in shipments from Latin American countries, despite traffickers' attempts to deceive customs authorities. In 2021, Belgian authorities seized a total of 89.5 tonnes at the port of Antwerp, an increase of 36% compared to the previous year.
Antwerp, the second most important freight port in Europe (after Rotterdam in the Netherlands), is presented as the largest on the Old Continent in terms of container traffic, estimated at 159 million tonnes per year after the merger with the port of Zebris.
Source: APB
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
