The Port of Antwerp-Bruges and North Sea Port have launched campaigns to raise awareness among port users about the risks of maritime drug trafficking. The rip-on/rip-off method, where drugs are hidden in legitimate containers, highlights the need for vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement to enhance port security and prevent smuggling.
Albanian smuggling gangs are evolving their methods by employing frogmen to retrieve cocaine hidden beneath cargo ships. This “parasite” smuggling technique allows traffickers to bypass bribing crews, using specialized divers to access drugs concealed in a vessel’s sea chest. Their collaboration with South American cartels enhances their operational efficiency.
Brazilian Federal Police intercepted one ton of cocaine bound for Morocco at the Port of Itapoa. The drugs were found hidden in a compartment of a cargo vessel. Five individuals from the Philippines and Montenegro were arrested. A joint operation with Italian police aims to dismantle a drug trafficking network involving Brazil’s largest drug gang.
