Drug criminals are continuously infiltrating the international shipping companies responsible for the transport of containers to the port of Rotterdam. ‘Corruption in the port is no longer limited to customs and is much bigger than people think,’ says district chief Jan Janse of the Seaport Police.

Recent investigations by the Dutch Seaport Police show, states Janse in Dutch newspaper NRC, that organised crime now has the right people at shipping companies. The criminals position accomplices in key positions, enabling them to facilitate large-scale drug smuggling. The drug organisations target large shipowners such as MSC, Maersk, Hapag Lloyd and CMA CGM that sail to South America.

Also read: Port of Rotterdam weighed down by drug crime

As a distribution country, the Netherlands plays a central role in the European cocaine trade. The amount intercepted is increasing every year. Last year, a record 40,900 kilos of cocaine were seized at the port by the Hit And Run Cargo team (HARC) of the police, customs and FIOD. In 2014, the figure was 7575 kilos.

Source: ANP