Dutch customs seize 400 kilos of cocaine hidden in bananas from Ecuador
Dutch customs authorities seized 400 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a pallet of bananas at the port of Vlissingen on March 6, officials reported. The Public Prosecution Service reported that the shipment arrived on a vessel from Ecuador, and the seizure led to the destruction of the drugs.
The interception was part of a routine inspection based on a customs risk analysis. “The drugs were hidden in a pallet of bananas on a ship coming from Ecuador. The seized cocaine has been destroyed,” the agency stated.
While seizures in Vlissingen decreased last year compared with 2024, the drop does not necessarily mean smuggling activity is declining. In 2024, customs discovered nearly 9,600 kilograms of cocaine in Vlissingen, compared with just over 7,000 kilograms last year. Both years involved twelve separate seizures. Rotterdam and Schiphol witnessed similar decreases in the amount confiscated.
Authorities say traffickers are adjusting their methods to avoid detection. “Criminals are choosing different smuggling methods, routes, and ports due to increased controls in major ports. Customs also notes that intercepted shipments are getting smaller, possibly because criminals want to spread their risks,” the customs office said.
Most cocaine intercepted in 2025 came from Latin America, primarily from shipments from Ecuador and Brazil. Dutch customs have increased cooperation with these countries, and a significant portion of drugs destined for the European market is now intercepted during transit stops along the West African coast.
