In Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe, the volume of cocaine smuggling dropped significantly in 2024. This was reported by Dutch law enforcement authorities on Thursday, January 23.
According to Dutch customs and police, nearly 26 tons of cocaine were seized in Rotterdam over the past year, compared to 45.5 tons in 2023.
At a press conference, Mariette Bode, head of the regional prosecutor’s office, highlighted a “positive trend” regarding drug smuggling through the port. “For the third consecutive year, fewer drugs have been discovered in the Port of Rotterdam,” she said.
Bode explained that the reduction in drug trafficking in Rotterdam was achieved by targeting so-called “extractors” — typically teenagers tasked with retrieving cocaine shipments hidden in containers near the port. Strengthened security measures, including the use of drones, “have made the port far less attractive to these smugglers,” the prosecutor added.
At the same time, Rotterdam law enforcement believes that the significant reduction in cocaine smuggling through the port also indicates that traffickers are employing new methods.
“The number of small shipments of illegal drugs passing through the Port of Rotterdam has increased significantly. One reason for this could be that criminals are now spreading their risks,” Bode explained.
