Dutch customs seize over 1,400kg of cocaine hidden in containers at Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte terminal in major drug bust.
Dutch customs officials have intercepted more than 1,400 kilograms of cocaine during a large-scale inspection at the Port of Rotterdam, one of Europe’s busiest shipping hubs.
The discovery was made at the Maasvlakte terminal after authorities selected multiple containers from a ship arriving from Curaçao for detailed inspection. During the search, officers found irregularities that led to the discovery of large quantities of cocaine concealed in several shipments.
According to investigators, the drugs were hidden using different methods across three containers. In two empty containers, customs officers found bags containing 32 kilograms of cocaine. Another container held six suitcases packed with 177 kilograms of the drug.
The largest discovery came from a container listed as carrying household goods from Curaçao to the Netherlands. Behind the legitimate cargo, authorities uncovered 35 bags containing 1,199 packages of cocaine, bringing the total seizure to more than 1.4 tons.
Officials believe the companies listed as recipients of the containers were not involved in the smuggling operation, suggesting the shipment may have been part of a “rip-off” method where traffickers hide drugs in legitimate cargo without the importer’s knowledge.
The investigation is being handled by the HARC team, a long-running partnership between Dutch Customs, the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD), the Seaport Police, and the Rotterdam Public Prosecution Service that focuses on drug trafficking through Dutch ports.
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as they work to identify the criminal network responsible for the shipment.
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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