Antwerp, Belgium – Belgian customs officials intercepted a shipment containing 4.5 tons of cocaine in the Port of Antwerp on Monday. The illicit cargo, concealed in a container labeled as carrying bananas from Ecuador, highlights the ongoing challenge authorities face in combating international drug trafficking. Estimated to be worth €225 million on the street, this seizure represents a significant disruption to organized crime operations within Europe.
The cocaine was carefully hidden among a legitimate shipment of bananas, a common strategy used by traffickers to disguise illegal goods. Following the discovery, customs agents quickly secured and confiscated the drugs, which are set to be destroyed to prevent any potential circulation.
This seizure underlines the importance of global cooperation. Belgian customs and port authorities are working in close collaboration with international partners in South America and Europe to disrupt trafficking networks before they reach European shores. Intelligence-sharing, joint training, and technological investments have become essential in the effort to counteract smuggling on this scale.
