Amsterdam man, 69, arrested over 4,500 kg cocaine haul, largest ever in the port

A 69-year-old Amsterdam man has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in bringing nearly 4,500 kilograms of cocaine into the Port of Amsterdam. Customs found the drugs on June 13, concealed in a shipment of wood from Ghana. The Public Prosecution Service says this is the largest cocaine seizure ever recorded in the Amsterdam port.

The shipment of wood was intended for a German company, which the OM calls a front used for international drug trafficking. A 72-year-old man from Chaam, Noord-Brabant, was allegedly used as a figurehead, receiving payment to register the business in his name. Police traced the 69-year-old suspect through a phone investigation linked to the figurehead.

During his arrest on October 5, authorities confiscated four phones to investigate his role and the movement of funds. The man from Chaam and two other suspects have since been released. The 69-year-old’s pre-trial detention was extended to 90 days on October 20. The OM anticipates additional arrests in the near future.

The biggest drug haul in Dutch history occurred in the Port of Rotterdam in 2023, with over 8,000 kilograms of cocaine seized.

Police reports indicate that cocaine trafficking through ports is growing more professional. Smugglers hide shipments not only in wood but in various other types of cargo, and they sometimes attach GPS trackers to containers so they can locate them precisely when the drugs are offloaded.

The HARC team (North Sea Canal area) is leading the investigation into the seizure. This task force, coordinated by the OM in Amsterdam, brings together Customs, the FIOD (Fiscal Information and Investigation Service), and the Police.