‘It’s like a cat and mouse game’: on the frontline of Belgium’s fight against drug smugglers
Summary
Belgian customs officers at the port of Antwerp are working hard to stop drug smugglers, especially those bringing cocaine into Europe. Despite large drug seizures, criminals constantly change their methods, making customs work a difficult and ongoing challenge.Key Facts
- Antwerp is one of Europe’s main ports for cocaine entry, with 483 tonnes seized between 2019 and mid-2024.
- Cocaine production in South America, especially Colombia, has increased a lot over the last decade.
- Dutch crime groups have shifted from the Rotterdam port to Antwerp for smuggling drugs.
- Some cocaine stays in Belgium, causing local crime, while much is sent on to the Netherlands.
- Judges have warned that Belgium risks becoming controlled by drug gangs, threatening social stability.
- Cocaine seized at Antwerp fell from 121 tonnes in 2023 to 55 tonnes in 2025.
- Customs use advanced scanning machines and train for a year to spot hidden drugs in containers.
- Smugglers hide drugs in unusual ways, such as mixing cocaine with orange juice or hiding it in fake fruit and building materials.
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