Schiphol drug smuggling probe leads to 4 arrests over Australia-bound cocaine shipment
A drug investigation launched at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has resulted in four arrests spanning two separate enforcement actions in January and May 2026, after authorities intercepted a large cocaine shipment bound for Australia and later detained four suspects across Zuid-Holland, the Koninklijke Marechaussee, the Dutch military police, reports.
The case began on Jan. 15 this year, when the Cargo HARC-team started a criminal investigation at Schiphol after Douane seized a large quantity of cocaine hidden in an air freight shipment destined for Australia. On the same day, investigators arrested a 31-year-old woman from Capelle aan den IJssel.
The case expanded months later. On May 19, authorities arrested three additional suspects aged 28, 45, and 54. The arrests took place in Rotterdam, Vlaardingen, and Maassluis. All three are suspected of involvement in the export of a large cocaine shipment through Schiphol Airport.
During searches connected to those arrests, investigators found a large amount of cash. They also seized multiple digital data carriers for forensic analysis and searched several vehicles.
The Cargo HARC-team Schiphol is a joint task force made up of Douane, the Koninklijke Marechaussee, and the FIOD. The agencies work together to tackle organized crime, drug smuggling, and money laundering at and around Schiphol Airport.
The arrests and searches are also part of the broader “Aanpak Ondermijning Schiphol” program, in which public and private partners cooperate to counter criminal infiltration at the airport. Participants include the Tax Administration, Customs, FIOD, the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, the Public Prosecution Service, the National Police, RIEC Noord-Holland, KLM, and Schiphol Group.
