News item | 12-07-2023 | 06:30
Customs seized more drugs in the first half of 2023 than in the same period last year. This is evident from the six-monthly figures of Customs on drug seizures. The number of small shipments found is striking: more than half of the shipments found contained less than 100 kilos of drugs. This large share of small shipments may be related to risk spreading by criminals. The number of large shipments with more than a thousand kilos of cocaine has remained about the same.
Figures intercepted cocaine
In the first six months, Customs intercepted 29,702 kilograms of cocaine. That is higher than in the first half of 2022, when 22,009 kilograms of cocaine were intercepted. The largest catch in recent months was a catch of almost 3600 kilos in June in the port of Rotterdam.
State Secretary Aukje de Vries of Finance (Executions and Customs): “Criminals who smuggle cocaine into our country are ruthless. They recruit minors, put entrepreneurs under pressure and make our countryside unsafe with their drug labs. That is why we have to tackle drug smuggling very hard.”
The State Secretary points out that the government has intensified its approach to undermining in recent years.
An important part of this approach is cooperation with other countries. For example, Dutch and Belgian customs work closely together. Liaisons have been posted in South America and Customs is cooperating with Brazilian Customs when it comes to analyzing scan images.
The State Secretary: “We have firmly committed to cooperation with other countries. For example, Customs exchanges information more often with countries from which a lot of cocaine is smuggled. It seems that this approach is bearing fruit,” says De Vries.
Increase in drug seizures in Vlissingen
Also striking is the number of kilos of drugs intercepted in the port of Vlissingen. In the past six months, there were eight finds in the port of Vlissingen, totaling about 3,000 kilos. Those were all shipments hidden in fruit. In the first half of 2022, there were still five catches in Vlissingen with a total of 2,200 kilos. This increase is partly due to the fact that Customs in Zeeland is collaborating more intensively with entrepreneurs and enforcement partners.
Findings in air freight
The increase in the number of kilos of cocaine seized in air cargo is the result of one large catch of 288 kilos. In the first half of this year, Customs intercepted 680 kilos of cocaine in 245 seizures. In the same period last year, there were 296 catches in air cargo, with a total of 300 kilos being intercepted. It is striking that the number of seized kilos of khat decreased compared to the first half of 2022.
Rip-off most commonly used method
Customs sees that criminals still use the rip-off method most often to send drugs illegally. Rip-off involves adding drugs to regular loads, such as sports bags. This is the case in 70 percent of cases. In half of all intercepted shipments, the narcotics are found in containers with fruit. Other cargoes such as fish, meat, cocoa beans, coffee and wood are used for the other shipments.
Domestic cooperation
There is intensive domestic cooperation to combat drug smuggling. For example, Customs participates in Hit and Run Cargo (HARC) Teams with, among others, the FIOD, the police and the Public Prosecution Service. Customs’ catches are regularly made in part thanks to information provided by partner organisations.
Foreign customs services
Over 16.4 tons of cocaine destined for the Netherlands was seized in 42 seizures by foreign customs services in the first six months. These are relatively fewer catches than in 2022, when 104 tonnes of cocaine were intercepted in 150 shipments throughout the year.
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