Dutch customs seize 1,575 kilograms of cocaine at Vlissingen Port

The drugs were uncovered during a routine inspection, according to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service. Authorities revealed that the cocaine was hidden inside a shipment of fruit, originating from Colombia and destined for Germany.

The seizure highlights the continued efforts to combat drug smuggling into Europe. The ports of Antwerp in Belgium and Rotterdam in the Netherlands are known as the primary entry points for cocaine shipments to Europe. However, authorities have noted a recent shift in smuggling tactics, with organized crime groups increasingly using smaller ports, like Vlissingen, to evade detection.

Earlier this month, Dutch customs seized 1,000 kilograms of cocaine at Vlissingen in just one week. In another operation at the same port in late October, officers discovered 600 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a shipment of bananas.

Authorities have continued to ramp up security measures at ports across the Netherlands as part of ongoing efforts to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the country and beyond into Europe.