Six individuals have been arrested following the discovery of nearly two tonnes of drugs at Antwerp port, stated the Antwerp prosecutor’s office on Friday.
The first find occurred at pier 730, where two shipping containers were earmarked for inspection. However, a 28-year-old port employee had moved these containers, just as a 31-year-old truck driver turned up to collect them.
A swift police intervention led to the apprehension of both men. An astounding 994 kilograms of cocaine, covertly hidden within a sugar shipment, were found within the containers.
A second seizure took place at pier 1742, unearthing 969 kilograms of cocaine within another container. During the course of the operation, as police halted a truck carrying two containers, two culprits tried to escape from one of the containers.
However, they were swiftly caught and the truck driver was also arrested. These individuals were aged 41, 42 and 43 respectively. The investigation also led to the arrest of a 33-year-old, linked to the operation, who operated a container forklift truck.
All six suspects have been remanded in custody by a magistrate and the investigation is ongoing.
