An Examining Magistrate in Antwerp has formally arrested five men suspected of drug smuggling through the port of Antwerp. The men were apprehended last week after a police raid on a warehouse in Beveren (East Flanders). Drug smuggling through the port is a major issue. In July alone, more than 11 tonnes of cocaine were seized at Antwerp docks.
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Five arrested on suspicion of having smuggled tonnes of cocaine through the port of Antwerp
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When the five suspects were detained last week in Beveren 2.4 tonnes of cocaine was seized as were six cars, two motorcycles, several cryptophones, a firearm, ammunition and 16,000 euro in cash.
Earlier this month, four suspects were apprehended at a warehouse in the Antwerp district of Merksem after 6.8 tonnes of cocaine were discovered in a container of bananas. There too, the police seized items including firearms and ammunition.
On top of this 2.14 tonnes of cocaine was discovered inside a container of bananas from Ecuador on 6 July. This brings the total amount of cocaine seized at the port of Antwerp so far this month to more than 11 tonnes. During the first 6 months of this year customs intercepted a total of 43 tonnes of cocaine at the port of Antwerp.