The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is officially recognized as Europe’s primary entry point for cocaine, having surpassed Rotterdam in recent years for the highest volume of narcotics seized.

 

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is officially recognized as Europe’s primary entry point for cocaine, having surpassed Rotterdam in recent years for the highest volume of narcotics seized. Spanning over 160 kilometers of quayside, the port’s massive scale and high container volume make it a preferred hub for South American cartels

Seizure Statistics & Trends

Authorities have seen a dramatic rise in intercepted drugs, though they admit these figures likely represent only 10% to 20% of the total volume entering the continent

• 2023: Interceptions reached a record-breaking 121 tonnes [27].
• 2024: Seizures remained high at approximately 110 tonnes [4, 18].
• 2025: Official reports noted a drop to 55 tonnes, which investigators attribute to a "waterbed effect"—where increased security at major ports pushes traffickers toward smaller, less-protected coastal entrances in France, Spain, and West Africa [24, 28]. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Why Antwerp is the Target

Criminal organizations, including the Clan del Golfo and Albanian gangs, exploit several factors unique to the port

• Massive Infrastructure: The port is Europe’s second-largest by cargo volume, processing millions of containers annually
• Perishable Goods: Smugglers often hide drugs in shipments of fresh fruit (especially bananas) because these containers must move through customs quickly to avoid spoilage
• Corruption & Hacking: Gangs have used purloined security codes and hacked port IT systems to locate and remove specific containers before they can be inspected

Social & Security Impact

The influx of cocaine has led to what some officials call a "national crisis," threatening to turn Belgium into a "narco-state"

• Rising Violence: The trade has brought unprecedented gang violence to Antwerp and nearby Brussels, including shootings, grenade attacks, and the accidental death of an 11-year-old girl in 2023
• Systemic Threats: High-level officials, including Belgium's former Justice Minister and the Dutch Prime Minister, have faced kidnapping threats and required safe-house protection due to their stances against the cartels
• Corruption: Gangs target port employees, often using threats or bribery to recruit "insiders" who facilitate the movement of drugs onto land

Enforcement Efforts

In response, the European Ports Alliance was launched in early 2024 to foster international cooperation [12]. Belgian authorities have also implemented the "Stroomplan" (Flow Plan), deploying nine new mobile scanners and hundreds of additional personnel to increase the scanning rate of high-risk containers