Dutch police uncover 319 kg of cocaine hidden inside a frozen snapper shipment from Suriname during customs inspection in Barneveld.
The police and customs discovered 319 kilos of cocaine in a container of deep-frozen fish on Monday. The drugs were found at a company in Barneveld, and had come from Suriname.
Following a tip, authorities checked the shipment. Since the first scan revealed unexplained anomalies, every fish was individually scanned by hand. The cocaine packages were discovered only when the frozen fish were cut open with a saw.
The Barneveld-based company seems uninvolved in the smuggling. Police continue to investigate, and the seized drugs have been destroyed.
The raid was conducted by the National Enforcement and Interventions Unit (ELOI) and the National Expertise and Operations Unit (LX), specialized branches of the national police that tackle serious organized crime and intricate logistical operations.
Customs considers concealing drugs in frozen goods a particularly labor‑intensive smuggling technique. The method is designed to evade detection by dogs and routine scanners, with the cold and dense frozen fish obscuring both the scent and the visible shape of the drug packages.
The Netherlands serves as a key European gateway for cocaine coming from South America and the Caribbean. Criminal networks often attempt to transport large shipments through sea containers and air freight. Container checks from Suriname increasingly reveal drugs, whether by sea, air, or land.
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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