Major cocaine bust off Zeeland coast: five arrested in North Sea drug smuggling operation
Five suspects were caught red-handed smuggling hundreds of kilograms of cocaine off the Zeeland coast. The operation, involving multiple agencies, disrupted a sophisticated drug trafficking method, preventing a significant quantity of narcotics from reaching Dutch streets.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Suspects Arrested | 5 men, aged 34–61 |
| Residences | Almere, Oostzaan, Beverwijk, Haarlem |
| Location of Arrest | North Sea, off the coast of Zeeland near Neeltje Jans |
| Smuggling Method | 'Drop-off' technique: drugs thrown into sea, picked up by speedboats |
| Seized Drugs | Several hundred kilograms of cocaine |
| Seized Assets | Speedboat (suspected sham acquisition) |
| Agencies Involved | HARC-NZKG (Customs, FIOD, Police), Coast Guard, Amsterdam Public Prosecution Service |
| Date of Arrest | March 15, 2026 |
The HARC-NZKG team is a specialized unit comprising Customs, the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD), and the Police, working under the Amsterdam Public Prosecution Service. Their mandate is to combat narcotics smuggling through Dutch ports and coastal areas, safeguarding public safety and disrupting organized crime networks.
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Five suspects arrested following intensive operation on the North Sea
The HARC-NZKG team, supported by the Coast Guard, arrested five suspects on Sunday, March 15, 2026, following an intensive operation on the North Sea. The five men were caught red-handed off the coast of Zeeland near Neeltje Jans while using a so-called "drop-off" method. This drug smuggling technique involves packages being thrown into the sea from seagoing vessels and subsequently picked up by smaller, faster boats.
During the operation, it was established that this method was used to transfer a shipment of several hundred kilograms of cocaine. Thanks to close collaboration between various disciplines, the drug shipment was seized and the suspects involved were arrested. As part of the investigation, a speedboat was also seized. Authorities suspect that this boat was acquired through a sham construction and further investigation is underway.
The five suspects, aged between 34 and 61, reside in Almere, Oostzaan, Beverwijk, and Haarlem.
The investigation, led by the Amsterdam Public Prosecution Service, is still ongoing. Further analysis is also being conducted on the seized narcotics.
The HARC team North Sea Canal Area (NZKG) is a collaboration between Customs, the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD), and the Police, under the leadership of the Amsterdam Public Prosecution Service and the Public Prosecution Service of North Holland. The team works daily to combat the import of narcotics through Dutch ports.