Concerns rise over drug smuggling in European ports amid increase in cocaine seizures

Concerns are rising that smaller ports in Europe may increasingly be used for smuggling large shipments of drugs in shipping containers. In Iceland, only a fraction of the shipping containers arriving has been scanned by a more than 16-year-old scanner.

In Europe, this issue has been dubbed the “cocaine wave,” as customs authorities have seized a record amount of cocaine in recent years. Iceland has experienced a similar trend, with drug seizures increasing annually. The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) reports that organized crime groups are focusing more on shipping as a means of transporting drugs. Approximately 70% of drugs seized by EU authorities last year were found in shipping containers, with Spanish authorities previously confiscating nine and a half tons of cocaine hidden in a banana shipment.

With increasing concern about drug smuggling, the EU has responded by allocating €200 million to enhance port security through advanced scanning technology. Currently, only 2% to 10% of the 90 million containers passing through European ports each year can be inspected adequately, which highlights the challenge faced by authorities.

Turning to countries outside the EU, Norway’s customs are underfunded and ill-equipped, making them vulnerable to smugglers who may shift focus as EU restrictions tighten. In recent months, Norwegian customs have seized significant amounts of cocaine hidden in shipments, demonstrating the potential for larger drug trafficking operations.

Iceland’s authorities have managed to intercept only small amounts of drugs smuggled into the country, primarily cannabis in small quantities via flights. However, a major episode involved the seizure of 100 kilograms of cocaine concealed in wooden barrels from Brazil, marking a significant indication of the potential scale of smuggling via shipping containers compared to passenger flights.

Icelandic customs, operating with outdated scanning equipment, recognize the need for investments to strengthen defenses against such smuggling efforts.