News 24 February 2021
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Police Make Europe’s Biggest Cocaine Seizure After Finding ‘Several Billion Euros’ Worth Of The Class-A Drug

24 February 2021
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The largest-ever cocaine seizure in Europe has been made by customs officers today (February 24) in Germany, following more than 16 metric tonnes of the Class A drug being found in containers that arrived from Paraguay.

The drugs were first discovered on February 12 amid a search of shipments than were flagged as ‘suspicious’.

Authorities in Germany and Belgium seized more than 23,000 kilograms of cocaine altogether, which is said to be worth ‘several billions’ of Euros – making it the largest amount of cocaine ever seized in Europe.

Hamburg’s customs office said that cocaine was found in more than 1,700 tin cans, which had been filled with putty, before a further 7.2 metric tonnes of cocaine were seized in Belgium in the following days.

A 28-year-old man from Vlaardingen, near Rotterdam, was arrested on suspicion of being responsible for the shipments.

State Secretary in Germany’s Federal Ministry of Finance, Rolf Bösinger said: “We have succeeded in seizing a record amount of cocaine. With this blow against organized narcotics crime. Also thanks to the exemplary cooperation with European partner authorities.

“German Customs has once again impressively demonstrated its clout. Our strategy of continuing to massively strengthen customs is working.”