20 January 2023

STRONGER MEASURES TO HALT FLOW OF DRUGS INTO PORTS

At a press conference earlier this month Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem, together with Dutch State Secretary for Allocations and Customs Aukje de Vries gave details on the cocaine seizures at Antwerp and the Dutch port of Rotterdam, which combined came to 160 tons in 2022.

The two countries said they would continue to work together to combat drug trafficking. “Belgium and the Netherlands regularly exchange strategic decisions, training and information gathered by artificial intelligence, and joint operational actions are also launched on the ground,” according to a statement, adding that both countries will “invest in strong customs.”

Belgium will recruit 108 new employees in the port of Antwerp and purchase new scanning equipment, according to the press release. “It means that every day brilliant detective work is delivered,” Van Peteghem said at the press conference. “It shows that the ongoing professional and decisive approach of the Belgian customs is successful in the relentless fight against the international drug trade.”

CLECAT notes that the discussions between the authorities and the freight forwarding sector have centred on making sure increased security does not slow trade. Forward Belgium and other port community stakeholders are in discussions with Belgium Customs to ensure that additional control does not impact the process flow.