Customs intercepted 92 kilos of cocaine in the Port of Rotterdam on Tuesday, July 8. The narcotics were found in 2 containers that were both on the same ship. The drugs have a wholesale value of over 2 million euros.
In one container, 40 kilos of cocaine were found in the inspection hatches. The container was loaded with cigars and tobacco and came from the Dominican Republic. The other 52 kilos were found in a container with bananas from Ecuador. The drugs were hidden in the side beams of the construction, something Customs has seen several times before.
Extractors
Both containers were intended for recipients in Antwerp. One container had to go by sea to Antwerp and the other by road. These types of shipments of narcotics are suitable for extractors, people who retrieve drugs from containers on behalf of criminals. The Belgian police reported earlier this week that they have already arrested 166 suspected extractors this year. For these shipments of cocaine, the extractors no longer need to be in the port. The drugs have since been destroyed.
HARC Team
The HARC team, a collaboration between Customs, FIOD, Port Police, and the Public Prosecution Service in Rotterdam, is further investigating the case.
