In the first half of 2026, Belgian customs seized significantly less cocaine in the Port of Antwerp compared to the same period a year earlier. At the same time, the number of cannabis seizures has risen.
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Big drop in cocaine seizures at Port of Antwerp in the first half of 2026
Colin Clapson
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Between January and June, customs seized 5.4 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Antwerp. In the same period last year, the figure stood at 16.7 tonnes. The number of seizures also fell sharply: from 82 to 28 instances.
The average quantity per seizure remains stable, at around 193 kg per case. “This suggests that smugglers continue to split their shipments into smaller consignments to minimise the risks of interception,” customs authorities say.
The so-called ‘rip-off method’, whereby drugs are concealed in legal goods without the knowledge of the sender or recipient, remains the most commonly used smuggling technique.
The origin of the intercepted cocaine also shows how criminal networks are constantly adapting their routes. The largest quantities came from Guyana, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica and Colombia.
Transfers at sea
Customs authorities have noticed a new trend: criminal organisations are increasingly transferring cocaine at sea from large cargo ships to smaller vessels. Another method involves throwing packages overboard so that smaller boats can retrieve them later on.
During the international operation against drug smuggling, ‘White Sea VI’, in which 14 European countries took part, 454 kilograms of cocaine were intercepted and five suspects were arrested.
Cannabis seizure on the rise
At the same time, there has been an increase in the number of cannabis seizures. In the first six months of this year, customs authorities intercepted 2.3 tonnes of marijuana in 13 cases and 8.5 tonnes of hashish in four cases. The marijuana mainly came from Canada and Thailand, whilst the hashish came primarily from Morocco.
The rise in marijuana imports from Canada has led to closer cooperation between Belgian and Canadian customs authorities. In early June, Belgium, together with the Netherlands and France, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Canada Border Services Agency. This is intended to strengthen the exchange of information and facilitate joint operations against international drug trafficking.