Central to not only Belgium's economy but also Europe's, Antwerp port is second only to Rotterdam for freight entering the EU, handling almost one million tonnes more goods than third-place Hamburg. But its importance for trade in general has been overshadowed by Antwerp's ascendency as the cocaine capital of Europe.
All the factors that make it a freight superhub also make it eminently suited to ship in hundreds of tonnes of cocaine – sometimes too much even for incinerators to handle. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
For law enforcement, this has been the root of the problem: the leading tactic of drug lords is simply to flood the vast import area with their smuggled goods. With European supply chains dependent on efficient processing and smooth passage, the pressure to keep things moving means that intricate inspections of every single container would be impossible.
Which isn't to say that elaborate efforts to conceal the inconspicuous powder aren't taken; and beyond that, paying off port workers to make certain arrangements... Officials estimated that in 2022 around 11% of cocaine passing through the port was intercepted. So long as this remains below 20% Antwerp will remain a viable point of entry.
The odds have seemed stacked hopelessly in favour of the gangs. But coordinated efforts working with international partners seem to be turning the tide, with over 23 tonnes of cocaine in recent weeks. Hailed an "unprecedented success" in what already has been an unprecedented year for drug seizures, might Antwerp be on the brink of a breakthrough in its war on cocaine trafficking?
Port authorities are confident they are "hurting the drug gangs at the moment", adding that the recent busts amount to hundreds of millions in lost revenue. The barons of the black market are feeling the pinch, they assert whilst looking forward to more victories before the year is out.
But it seems unlikely that drug barons will roll over without a fight. This was made alarmingly obvious when two weeks ago police intercepted a van carrying seven heavily armed men, thought to be on their way to recapture a major import of cocaine just seized by customs officials earlier that day.
The incident highlighted not only the lines of communication that underpin such smuggling operations, but also the lengths that gangs are willing to go to secure the lucrative shipment. Despite a lethal gunfight being averted, police security at the hangar where the contraband was being held was later challenged by armed men who threatened guards before making a getaway.
With the stakes so high, is the battle just beginning? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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