'Most cocaine in Rotterdam comes from Ecuador'
August 5, 2023

Most cocaine imported into Rotterdam comes from Ecuador. That is what the head of the Seaport Police in the Rijnmond told the NRC . From 2018 to 2022, more than 60,000 kilos of cocaine from Ecuador, divided into more than 150 consignments, were seized in the port of Rotterdam.

Colombia at four
Ecuador has been by far the most important country for cocaine smuggling to the Netherlands in the past five years. Brazil is in second place with about 43,000 kilos, followed by Costa Rica with more than 30,000 kilos of cocaine. Colombia occupies a distant fourth place with about 13,000 kilos of cocaine.

HARC
The NRC made an analysis of data on seizures by the so-called HARC team. This specialized Hit and Run Cargo team is a partnership of the Public Prosecution Service (OM), Seaport Police, FIOD and Customs and handles all drug finds in the port of Rotterdam.

After an appeal to the Open Government Act (Woo) by NRC, the Public Prosecution Service refused to disclose drug smuggling data. After a ruling by the Rotterdam District Court, the Public Prosecution Service finally gave in to the request.

Guayaquil
The port city of Guayaquil in Ecuador has been the largest cocaine export port to the port of Rotterdam for three years in a row.

Cocaine is hardly made in Ecuador, but is imported from the south of Colombia and Peru. The security of the container terminals in Guayaquil is very poor. For example, fencing is missing in most places.

Ecuador is currently suffering from increasing corruption and violence. The Netherlands is working on a treaty with Ecuador that will enable far-reaching cooperation between customs in both countries.