Cocaine seizures up more than 600% in 2021 in the North

Seizures of cocaine exploded in the North between 2020 and 2021, with an increase of 632%, announced Monday February 14 the regional customs directorate of Lille, a surge linked to the development of imports of this drug via the major European ports.

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“

”, all drugs combined, but with an increase of 632% for cocaine and 162% for heroin, writes the regional customs directorate of Lille in a press release.

Nationally, the quantities of cocaine seized have doubled compared to 2020, going from 9.06 tonnes to 18.62 tonnes (+ 106%), to reach a "

" level, according to figures made public in early February. by the Minister of Public Accounts Olivier Dussopt.

The Minister had underlined the special attention paid by customs officers to sea freight and the search of containers.

With the slowdown in air traffic due to the health crisis linked to Covid-19, many traffickers "

", explained Monday the communication department of the general directorate of customs.

The “

” also makes Europe more attractive to traffickers, with higher resale prices in Northern Europe, in the context of a sharp increase in production in America Latin, according to the same source.

Traffickers use the "

“, consisting of storing cocaine in the back of containers, often from South America, and unloading it quickly when they land.

All the major ports of Northern Europe, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Dunkirk, are affected by the phenomenon of these massive imports.

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If the regional customs directorate of Lille does not include the arrondissement of Dunkirk, the Nord department is either the destination or an axis of passage to Ile-de-France or other regions.

At the end of January, customs also made a record seizure of 514 kg of cocaine on a ship coming from Chile in the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille, goods whose resale value is estimated at 36 million euros.