How a Quiet Corner of Northern Europe Became a Theatre of Extreme Drug Warfare

End of the year totals summation: Cocaine seizures reach new record; 68 tonnes found at ports this year - DutchNews.nl

Cocaine seizures reach new record; 68 tonnes found at ports this year​

December 29, 2021

Customs officials and police have seized 68 tonnes of cocaine at Dutch ports and airports so far this year, well above last year’s record of nearly 50 tonnes.

Most of the drugs were found in containers at Rotterdam port. ‘What surprises us is the enormous increase in big shipments,’ customs chief Nanette van Schelven told broadcaster NOS (in Dutch).

This year at least nine shipments totaling over a 1,000 kilos were found. The biggest was that of 4.2 tonnes of cocaine, hidden in sacks of soy beans and spread across two containers.

More drugs are being found because teams can better estimate which containers are likely to be at risk. Drones and diving teams are also being used in an effort to trace shipments, she said.

More than 400 people were also arrested at the port who were waiting to move shipments to new locations. Last year, 281 people were caught trying to move drugs.

Airborne

More cocaine was also moved on cargo flights via Schiphol airport. In 2020 700 kilos of cocaine was seized at the airport, but that had risen to 1,800 kilos this year. Some 500 kilos was also found in passengers’ bags.

Postal companies also found 13,000 letters containing drugs, mainly ecstasy and ketamine – triple the 2020 total. The customs department has brought in extra people to check on drugs by post.

In September, European policing organization Europol published a report saying the increased use of shipping containers to conceal drugs has made the high volume ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg the new epicenter of the European cocaine market.

While Antwerp is the biggest arrival port for cocaine, most of the drug is ‘is likely intended for organizations operating out of the Netherlands, from where the cocaine is further distributed to other European destinations, Europol said.
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Latest catch, not yet included: https://nltimes.nl/2021/12/29/cocaine-valued-eu126.5-million-found-three-rotterdam-shipments

Wednesday, December 29, 2021 - 14:26

Cocaine valued at €126.5 million found in three Rotterdam shipments​


Authorities at the Port of Rotterdam discovered three separate shipments of cocaine with an estimated combined street value of nearly 126.5 million euros. Some 1,686 kilograms of cocaine was found in sea containers taken off different ships on Wednesday, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) said.

The largest discovery was 1,515 kilograms of the drug found in a sea container loaded with cocoa beans. The container was loaded in Ecuador before it was sent to Colombia. It was placed on a ship there, which stopped in Antwerp before continuing on to Rotterdam. It was inspected by Customs agents, who found the 38 bales of cocaine.

Earlier in the day, Customs found a smaller consignment of 32 kilograms of cocaine in a sea container filled with bananas. The batch of bananas was shipped from Ecuador and was destined for a business in Barendrecht. The bananas were off-loaded, and the empty container was inspected. The drugs were found in the motor compartment which refrigerates the container.

Another batch of 139 kilograms was found in five duffel bags hidden in a shipment of resin cement that arrived from Brazil. The resin cement was destined for a company in Portugal, the OM stated.

"The recipients of the aforementioned containers and goods appear to have nothing to do with the smuggling operation. The drugs have since been destroyed," the OM stated.

All three cases were being investigated by Customs, financial crimes inspectorate FIOD, Seaport Police, and the Rotterdam branch of the OM. The four offices cooperate as part of the Hit-and-Run Cargo Team, which runs investigations into drug trafficking at the ports.

Reporting by ANP.
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One belated report on 2021 activities included the largest (!) single drug find of the year: 4.18 tonnes of cocaine. That changes the sum total for the whole year quite considerably.

Source: Customs officers seize over 4 tonnes of cocaine at Rotterdam port - DutchNews.nl

Customs officers seize over 4 tonnes of cocaine at Rotterdam port​

January 6, 2022

Customs officials made their biggest cocaine haul of the year at Rotterdam port last week, when 4,180 kilos of the drug were found hidden in the roof of a container and among a consignment of bananas.

The find was made on December 30 and had a street value of €300m, officials said.

Once emptied, the container continued its journey to Antwerp port under police surveillance. From there it was moved to a warehouse in Essen, in Belgium. On Monday seven people were arrested at the warehouse – five Belgian and two British nationals.

In total, over 72 tonnes of cocaine was found at Dutch ports last year.
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Coverage in Dutch: Weer ligt er coke tussen de bananen, ruim 4000 kilo gevonden in haven Rotterdam
 
- World - cocaine trafficking - corruption
Investigation in France and Italy (you can use the various automatic subtitles in the video)
French politicians and family stories...

Mixing genres to more accurately portray political figures and their approaches, and what is happening alongside our global news.

I assume it links to this thread, but may be moved by more knowledgeable people. Hope this is helpful, although it's a bit old.




- Monde - traffic de cocaïne - corruption
Investigation en France et Italie (vous pouvez utiliser les divers sous-titrages automatiques dans la vidéo)
Hommes politiques français et histoires de familles...

Le mélange des genres pour dépeindre plus précisemment les personnalités politiques et leurs démarches, et ce qui se passe en parallèle de notre actualité mondiale.

Je suppose que cela se relie à ce fil, mais peut être déplacé par de plus avertis. J'espère que c'est utile, bien que ce soit un peu ancien.
 
Source: Mayors of Rotterdam and Antwerp suggest practices to curb cocaine imports

Sunday, February 13, 2022 - 14:25

Mayors of Rotterdam and Antwerp suggest practices to curb cocaine imports ​


Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb wants to better secure his city’s port to curb the supply of cocaine coming in from Central and South America, he argued in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The letter was co-written with Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever and also sent to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo of Belgium.

The two mayors recently paid a working visit to Columbia, Panama and Costa Rica. They argued that criminals consider the two ports as one “working area,” which they have used for trafficking large amounts of cocaine into Europe. For example, over five billion euros’ worth of cocaine was intercepted from the port of Rotterdam last year.

The mayors’ recommendations include securing ports more efficiently by using artificial intelligence, and more carefully controlling the flow of incoming goods. In particular, they believe fruit shipments should always be checked. Aboutaleb said on the Flemish television channel VRT that the port of Rotterdam now controls “a scarce one percent” of all tropical fruit containers, NOS reported (in Dutch).

They also want to give the police more leeway to search for criminal money flows, including in cryptocurrencies. Additionally, the mayors called for better communication with the countries the drugs are coming from, in order to stop the bulk of them at the source.

Aboutaleb and De Wever pointed out that a record amount of cocaine from Central and South America was intercepted in their ports last year: around 90,000 kilograms in Antwerp and 70,000 kilograms in Rotterdam.

"The impact of the related crime and criminal money in our ports, our streets, our urban communities, our society is nothing short of disastrous: an increase in brutal violence, criminal money that poisons the economy and finances other criminal activities, such as human trafficking and the arms trade,” they wrote.

The mayors also acknowledged on VRT that they have no formal authority to combat drug trafficking, according to NOS.

Reporting by ANP and NL Times.
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Other coverage of the same: Aboutaleb: 100% of fruit shipments should be screened for drugs - DutchNews.nl

Source (Dutch only): Celstraffen van 3 tot 11 maanden geëist tegen acht uithalers haven Rotterdam

Smuggled drugs
Cell sentences of 3 to 11 months demanded against eight traffickers Port Rotterdam

44 minutes ago - updated 44 seconds ago

The public prosecutor's office has demanded prison sentences of three to eleven months against eight so-called traffickers. They are suspected of removing smuggled drugs from containers in the port of Rotterdam.

The traffickers break into port areas or try to get close to the containers with an underhanded excuse. The eight hawkers on trial today had ages ranging from 19 to 34.

One defendant heard a ten-month demand, one of six months, one of five months and two defendants heard a four-month demand. The highest demand of eleven months was because that suspect had previously been arrested with heroin in his pocket. The case of another suspect has been temporarily adjourned.

Argument with cab driver

Most of the suspects invoked their right to remain silent in court, but several gave the judge an explanation as to why they were at the port when they were arrested. For example, one suspect said that he had had an argument with his cab driver and that the driver then drove towards the port without consulting him.

Another suspect said that he was jogging and that he had not been on the harbor grounds at all. The prosecutor later emphasized that it did not matter why a suspect was on the premises, "even if you were there to salsa dance." According to him, the only thing that matters is that the suspects should not have been there in the first place.

The problem with traffickers is growing, according to the Prosecutor's Office. In 2021, a total of four hundred people were arrested on suspicion of hauling. One of these people was arrested no less than nine times.

Previously only a fine

In the past, anyone caught in the harbor received at most a 95 euro fine. This was because it was often difficult to prove that the person was smuggling drugs at that moment. If this was not sufficiently clear, the only fine that could be imposed was for being on a prohibited site without authorization.

Due to a new article of law, this has changed since this year. Law article 138aa sr (in Dutch) makes it punishable to be present at the containers of the Rotterdam harbor. You risk a prison sentence of up to two years.

New law is an asset

Professor of criminal law at the Open University Sven Brinkoff calls the new legislation 'an asset.' "Previously, hawkers were often sent away if they were caught in the port. Then they only got a 90 euro fine. Now they can get jail time."

He does wonder if the new law is a sufficient deterrent. "Especially when it is considered that a lot of money can be made with the hauling." If it were up to Brinkhoff, more effort would be put into prevention. "Preventing young boys from being tempted to become a trafficker."

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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Source: Netherlands, Colombia to work closely together against drug trafficking

Thursday, February 17, 2022 - 19:05

Netherlands, Colombia to work closely together against drug trafficking ​


The Netherlands and Colombia will cooperate even more closely in the fight against drug trafficking, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Colombian President Ivan Duque agreed during the latter's two-day visit to the Netherlands. They've made agreements to intensify cooperation between the Dutch police and Public Prosecution Services and their Colombian counterparts, Rutte said in a joint press conference after the two met, AD reports (in Dutch; behind pay-wall).

A lot of cocaine from Colombia enters the Netherlands and Europe through the port of Rotterdam. Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb recently visited Colombia. Upon his return, he wrote to Rutte that the Cabinet needs to step up and do more to fight against drug trafficking from Latin America.

President Duque said that his country's authorities would look into improving container inspection in Colombia. He praised the close cooperation with the port of Rotterdam but called for more international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking. According to Duque, people don't realize the damage the drug trade is doing to Colombia. In addition to the related crime, it also causes ecocide as large parts of the rain forest are destroyed to grow coca.
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Palinurus said:
Source: Mayors of Rotterdam and Antwerp suggest practices to curb cocaine imports
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Interesting, which brings to mind the Netherlands Schipol Airport security being run by Israel's ICTS, and Israel has been well written about in the cocaine cartel businesses of Columbia (along with other primarily U.S. Alphabet agencies).

From what you have posted, Europe is indeed a growing dumping ground, and to get from A to B these drugs (cocaine) requires a sophisticated network of international distribution initiating from the Andes countries (via Mexico, the US to a nexus point in Europe).

Michael Parenti:

Additonal ways that the empire strikes back home: the narcotics that victimize whole segments of our population are shipped in through secret international carels linked to past and present CIA operatives. Large-scale drug trafficking has been associated with CIA-supported covert wars in Cuba, Southeast Asia, and Central Aemrica. As of 1988, evidence was mounting linking the US-backed Nicaraguan counterrevolutionaries to a network of narcotics smuggling that stretched "from cocaine plantations in Columbia to dire airstrips in Costa Rica, to pseudo-seafood companies in Miami, and, finally, to the drug-ridden streets of our society.
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www.middleeastmonitor.com

How Israel armed the drugs cartels – part 1

When I lived in the West Bank a decade ago, I heard from Palestinians in both Hebron and Jerusalem more than once that the Israeli occupation forces tolerate or even encourage the sale of hard drugs a...
www.middleeastmonitor.com

www.chicagotribune.com

ISRAELIS, BRITONS REPORTEDLY AIDED CARTEL

www.chicagotribune.com www.chicagotribune.com


Had not realized this, and just how wide spread is it?

 
Voyageur said:
From what you have posted, Europe is indeed a growing dumping ground, and to get from A to B these drugs (cocaine) requires a sophisticated network of international distribution initiating from the Andes countries (via Mexico, the US to a nexus point in Europe).
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Yep. And what is also interesting is a recent drug bust in the Netherlands may have (speculation), been heading to all points within the EU, the middle east, and possibly to Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1527150402776408064
https://twitter.com/x/status/1527158823034556416

Also:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1528744821178900480

https://twitter.com/x/status/1528750865435197440
 
Another drug bust in Spain in the Port city of La Luz (Canary Islands).

They locate 215 kilos of cocaine in a container in the Port of Las Palmas
May 26, 2022 11:29 a.m.
The Civil Guard of the Fiscal Detachment of the Port of La Luz has worked in coordination with Customs Surveillance of the Tax Agency in Las Palmas . After a first assessment, a container from Brazil with drugs inside was seized.

The operation was carried out on May 23. Inside the ship's container were 500 sacks of white crystal sugar. In ten of them, they contained cocaine.

As a result of the monitoring and joint surveillance carried out by both the Civil Guard and the Tax Agency in the port facilities, the corresponding documentary analyzes of a container were carried out. They found discrepancies regarding the declared merchandise, coming from the port of Santos (Brazil) and which was scheduled to continue its destination to the African continent after carrying out the transshipment in the port of Gran Canaria.

The first indications found by the agents of the Civil Guard of the Fiscal and Border Section, led to a more exhaustive inspection together with members of Customs Surveillance of the container merchandise at the Border Inspection Center (CIF). Numerous sacks of sugar were extracted from its interior. 10 bags were located that had irregular shapes compared to the rest of the load.

This finding aroused certain suspicions in the acting agents, so they proceeded to separate and open them.

Substance analysis:​


The drug was hidden inside sacks of sugar / Civil Guard


Once the substance was extracted from the bags, the appropriate checks were carried out. They went to the Civil Guard offices of Puerto de la Luz and there a small sample was taken from each sack to submit it to a narcotics test. In the tests, 10 bags of sugar-containing a white and compact substance that was distributed in 200 packages tested positive for cocaine.

This intervention is a serious blow to international organized crime that uses this type of modus operandi. The introduction of said substance on the illicit market has been prevented. According to the tables established by the National Narcotics Central Office, it would have reached an estimated value of more than 7,600,000 euros.

For all these reasons, the corresponding police proceedings were carried out by the Tax Analysis and Investigation Unit, which were made available to the Court of Instruction of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Police in conjunction with the intervened substance.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1529507799088119809

Manzanillo, (Colima Mx.) is a major port where the Chinese mafia smuggles chemical precursors for the production and processing of Meth and cocaine.

Authorities keep this information on the down-low being a major vacation hub for Mexico and the US.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1529553106001969154
#Mexico | The Jalisco Cartel is facing ruptures in Colima, Michoacán, and Jalisco, as rivals confront their far larger enemy. https://bit.ly/3yWgjpN
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1530077685699039233
Amid the unprecedented waves of EU and US sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of its Ukraine invasion, and as tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions continue between Moscow and European capitals, among the last frontiers of Russia-Europe cooperation remains in the area of crime monitoring and data sharing.

But that too appears to be winding down, as Russian state media has announced the European Union has suspended its drug traffic data sharing program with Russian law enforcement agencies. "The EU has suspended contacts and data sharing with Russia as part of the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official said," TASS reports.

"The European Union has unilaterally suspended expert contacts and data sharing with us" as part of the EMCDDA, Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov confirmed. "The annual OSCE-wide Anti-Drug Conference has been postponed indefinitely," he added.

The Russian official slammed the move as counterproductive, with the inevitable consequence being that drug traffickers will be able to act with greater impunity as a country the size of Russia (literally the world's largest by land mass and border area) is cut out of the program.

"We believe this is a destructive approach. It plays into the hands of drug traffickers, who are taking advantage of the disagreements among countries to increase illicit drug supplies to Europe," he said.

Russia, however, remains and will likely continue to remain a vital country within INTERPOL - the world's largest international policing organization, representing 194 member countries.

According to the INTERPOL website, "Russia is the world’s largest country by area, and shares borders with countries in northern Asia and Europe. Identifying, investigating and preventing serious crime across Europe and Asia is a large part of the daily work carried out by INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Moscow."

Further it highlights Russian law enforcement's importance in tracking international crime as follows: "The NCB’s global police cooperation activities are centered on Russia’s crime areas of priority concern; these include terrorism, organized crime – particularly drug and financial crime - and the international fugitive investigations these generate. Cybercrime is also an emerging crime area of concern." Given rapidly deteriorating diplomatic relations with the West, this too could eventually be threatened as a vital area of close coordination.

Edit Add:

INTERPOL Secretary General: Online child sexual abuse at record levels

Secretary General Stock warns that children are at greater risk of online abuse and exploitation than ever before
www.interpol.int www.interpol.int

https://twitter.com/x/status/1529449402758221830
 
A script is available with a subscription. But the video with the article does the job of where this Cartel's product is intended.

www.independent.ie

Kinahan gangsters still being harboured by UAE, as criminals see fleeing as ‘too risky’

Gardaí believe key figures in the Kinahan organised crime group are unable to leave Dubai — despite having had their assets seized and their bank accounts frozen by the United Arab Emirates government.
www.independent.ie www.independent.ie
1653886284509.png
Maeve Sheehan May 29 2022 02:30 AM Video / Snip:
Gardaí believe key figures in the Kinahan organized crime group are unable to leave Dubai — despite having had their assets seized and their bank accounts frozen by the United Arab Emirates government.

An informed source said that six weeks since the US government hit the Kinahan crime cartel with worldwide sanctions and a $5m reward for actionable information, Christy Kinahan Snr (65) and his sons Daniel (44) and Christopher Jnr (41) have not risked taking flight.

Added

Apr 19, 2022, by Plastic Paddy

A Wanted Migrant and Gang Members Arrested

Securing America's Borders
www.cbp.gov www.cbp.gov
Release Date Fri, 05/27/2022 - 12:00
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) agents arrested a wanted Honduran national and gang members with serious criminal history throughout the week.
On May 24, McAllen Border Patrol Station apprehended a group of 46 migrants near La Joya. Record checks on a Honduran national revealed he is wanted in Honduras for drug trafficking.

Around noon, Brownsville Border Patrol Station agents apprehended a Mexican national in Brownsville. Record checks revealed the subject is a Paisa gang member that has been sentenced to more than ten years’ confinement for being unlawfully present in the U.S. after deportations, and 52 months for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. His criminal history dates back to 1999 and was primarily in the Brownsville area.

Later that afternoon, Falfurrias Border Patrol Station (FLF) agents apprehended a MS-13 gang member from El Salvador with criminal history. He was sentenced in 2009 to 99 months’ combined confinement in Atlanta for unlawful transportation of firearms and racketeering activity-murder/kidnapping. He was subsequently sentenced to 24 months’ confinement and removed from the U.S.

On May 25, FLF agents apprehended a group of 25 migrants attempting to circumvent the checkpoint. Record checks on a Honduran national revealed he was convicted of a 2nd degree felony for indecency with a child sexual contact.

Additionally, this week, RGV agents arrested four 18th Street gang members, five Mara-Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang members and one additional Paisas gang member.

All subjects were processed accordingly.
Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter @CBPRGV and @USBPChiefRGV.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.
Last Modified: May 27, 2022
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1530324988858884106

Pacific Northwest - Google Suche

www.google.com
CBP Air and Marine Operations Bellingham Air and Marine Branch seizes nearly 1,500 pounds of meth. https://bit.ly/3t1Hlbw
5:50 PM · May 27, 2022

Meanwhile:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1531035410377367553
 
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