Cocaine smuggling in various of the Netherlands' coastal areas is increasing considerably, according to the mayors of these areas. The problem is a "big and growing concern" and doesn't get enough priority. In the coastal areas fake companies are rapidly set up to facilitate drug trafficking. Once nested, it's hard to get rid of them. But also professional fishermen are being pressured by criminals.
Traffickers increasingly opt for smaller ports, because they assume that security - and the chance of being caught - is less than in Rotterdam.
In the last week of June, the Dutch and Belgian police seized two shipments, totaling in nearly 1,700 kilos of cocaine. Dutch persons were involved in both shipments.