Drug Seizure in Rotterdam

Introduction:
I’ve never been to the Netherlands. In fact, I’ve never been to Europe at all. However, if you’re alive as a coherent human being, you know that the Eastern side of that continent is known for its… eccentric activities, shall we say. Red light districts, late nights, and yes… illicit substances. Drug shipments in Europe have been heating up, especially in recent years, leading to an uptick in drug-related and violent crimes.

Drug Seizures in Europe:
For example, 303 tons of cocaine were seized in Europe in 2021 alone. The logistics industry has dealt with criminal activity since its inception.

Drug Trafficking Tactics:
Using shipments of goods like fruits to hide drugs has always been a tactic among those moving them. For drug traffickers, classics never go out of style, as authorities were seizing drugs from the port two weeks ago. Transporting them inside a shipment of bananas from Ecuador, which is part of the South American hotbed of drug trade.

Ecuador’s Drug-Related Violence:
Ecuador is facing a large uptick in drug-related violence, with gangs engaging in territorial battles, mainly over control of ports. This comes in addition to a number of attacks and even assassinations on Ecuadorian government officials in recent months, which has led to a state of emergency in some parts of the nation, as well as its entire prison system in order to try to mitigate the surge in violent crimes.

Logistics Industry Vigilance:
In the logistics industry, shippers, carriers, and providers receive training to keep their heads on a swivel when it comes to these types of events. In certain situations, the logistics company may be the ones that have to take responsibility if something like this happens. I have personally heard of situations of careless or nefarious people in this industry turning situations from fire-able offenses to literal matters of national security… but those are stories for another time (or another blog post).

 

–Jack H

Works Cited: Despite record cocaine seizures, drug cartels roil Europe | AP News
Dutch customs officials make record cocaine seizure worth 600 million euros | AP News