Europe stands like an open door for the cartels, which import cocaine worth billions. Individuals or mafia groups do not have the muscle for quantities of this scale. These are cartels with connections to political power on both sides of the Atlantic. Europe has been warned.
Instead, Europe directs its anger at the Trump administration, which intercepts drug boats. The media describe it as “claims” that these vessels are smuggling narcotics.
Seizures worth billions are relegated to brief news items.
Recently, a major laboratory in South Africa was uncovered, operated by the Sinaloa Cartel, which is otherwise based in Mexico. The cartels are global actors. They have so much money and are so well connected that they can buy their way in anywhere.
Eight tonnes of cocaine worth nearly NOK 5.4 billion have been seized in Germany. Two people have been arrested.
This is among the largest cocaine seizures of recent years. The seizure was made in February and was kept secret until Wednesday for investigative reasons, the German customs authorities stated at a press conference on Wednesday.
The two arrested individuals are believed by police to be the principal actors in the case. They were arrested in Spain in May. One of them is the head of an import company.
The cocaine was discovered in a shipping container from West Africa at the JadeWeserPort harbour in the German city of Wilhelmshaven. The container was destined for Spain. (NTB)