Dutch Customs Seize 24.5 Tonnes of Cocaine in 2025, Cannabis Seizures Quadruple
Dutch customs seized 24.5 tonnes of cocaine in 2025, a significant decrease from previous years, while cannabis seizures quadrupled to 65.5 tonnes
Key Points
- 1Dutch customs seized 24.5 tonnes of cocaine in 2025, down from 38 tonnes in 2024
- 2Rotterdam was the primary location for cocaine seizures, with 11.5 tonnes intercepted
- 3Cannabis seizures quadrupled to 65.5 tonnes, primarily at Rotterdam port and airports
- 4Smugglers are using new tactics, including the 'drop-off' method at sea
- 5Customs director credits intensified efforts for the reduction in cocaine trafficking
In 2025, Dutch customs officials intercepted a total of 24.5 tonnes of cocaine, marking a significant decrease from the previous years when seizures reached 38 tonnes in 2024 and 60 tonnes in 2023. This decline comes as smugglers adapt to new routes and methods for drug trafficking. Rotterdam remained the focal point for these operations, with 11.5 tonnes seized at its port, compared to 25 tonnes the year before
The port of Vlissingen also saw a reduction in cocaine interceptions, with customs officials seizing seven tonnes compared to nearly 9.6 tonnes in 2024. To combat drug smuggling, additional sniffer dogs and customs personnel have been deployed at the Zeeland port. Meanwhile, cannabis seizures skyrocketed to 65.5 tonnes, a fourfold increase, predominantly intercepted at Rotterdam port and airports
Customs director Nanette van Schelven attributed the decrease in cocaine shipments to intensified efforts against the drug trade, though she acknowledged that smuggling gangs are continually devising new strategies. A notable tactic is the 'drop-off' method, where drugs are discarded at sea to drift to shore, leading to frequent discoveries of drug packages on beaches, including a recent find on Terschelling