Belgian police have confiscated 4.8 tons of cocaine at the Port of Antwerp as part of an investigation into a suspected drug trafficking organization linked to South America, announced the Brussels Prosecutor’s Office on Friday.
The federal judicial police in Brussels carried out 27 searches in Belgium and four in the Netherlands on November 5 and 12.
In addition to the cocaine discovered in shipping containers, authorities seized vehicles, weapons, luxury items—including clothing, jewelry, handbags, and watches—and approximately €185,000 in cash, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Eight individuals have been arrested and charged with “importing/exporting narcotics in association with members of a criminal organization,” as stated by the Brussels Prosecutor’s Office.
This targeted organization is believed to have been actively involved in importing and exporting cocaine into Belgium from South America, Central America, and Canada. It is suspected of having “facilitated the departure of suspicious containers” and provided “logistical support to other organizations for a fee.”
In 2023, Belgian customs authorities seized a record-breaking volume of 116 tons of cocaine in Antwerp, following the seizure of 109.9 tons the previous year.
