Concerns grow over drug smuggling through smaller ports in Europe, particularly in Iceland

Concerns are growing that smaller ports in Europe may increasingly be used to smuggle large shipments of drugs concealed within shipping containers. In Iceland, only a fraction of the containers arriving in the country are examined by a scanner that is over 16 years old.

Recent reports highlight a significant rise in drug seizures in Europe, particularly cocaine, leading to what has been termed the “cocaine tsunami.” Over the past year, European customs authorities have intercepted more cocaine than ever before, with approximately 70% of these drugs found in shipping containers. For instance, Spanish authorities recently seized 9.5 tons of cocaine hidden in a banana shipment from Ecuador. Organized crime groups are shifting focus towards less fortified smaller ports for their drug smuggling operations amid rising security measures in larger ports.

The European Union recognizes drug trafficking as a major threat to continental security, allocating approximately 200 million euros to enhance port security and acquire advanced scanning equipment. Currently, only between 2% to 10% of the 90 million containers processed in European ports each year can be inspected.

The situation in Norway is also alarming, with its customs services noted to be underfunded and understaffed, failing to effectively combat increasing drug smuggling activities. Instances of large cocaine seizures indicate organized crime has started to target Norway as a transit point.

In Iceland, attempts at drug smuggling typically involve smaller quantities brought via air travel, though there have been notable exceptions, like the seizure of 100 kilograms of cocaine hidden in timber drums, recognized as one of the largest drug cases in the nation’s history. The lack of updated scanning technology for containers continues to be a significant challenge for customs authorities in combating drug trafficking effectively.