Bremen sounds the alarm: the port should rigorously combat cocaine smuggling!

Bremen sounds the alarm: the port should rigorously combat cocaine smuggling!

In a crucial initiative to combat drug trafficking, Bremen's SPD parliamentary group has presented plans to tighten drug controls in the port of Bremerhaven. Parliamentary group leader Mustafa Güngör is concerned about the growing danger that Bremerhaven will be used as a gateway for drugs such as cocaine. In 2023, customs seized an impressive 1.8 tons of cocaine there, an increase of almost 1.4 tons compared to the previous year. This development underscores the urgency of more effective handling, especially since around 70% of cocaine enters Europe via South American countries such as Colombia and Peru. The port of Bremerhaven is increasingly perceived as less secure as security measures have been increased in Antwerp and Rotterdam, which encourages criminal activity in Bremerhaven.

The planned measures are part of a comprehensive package that will soon be approved by the Bremen parliament. These include: increasing the number of customs officers, purchasing additional container X-ray systems and intensifying targeted searches. The protection of seized drugs should also be improved. The aim is also to strengthen international cooperation between the authorities in order to weaken the criminal structures in the port. Güngör explains that these steps are necessary to decisively confront drug criminals and increase security in the ports. “In other European countries, successful action is already being taken against this drug trade,” he adds.

Challenges in the port

The situation is not without challenges. According to Nicole Tödter, head of the Bremen main customs office, Bremerhaven is considered one of the largest gateways for drug smuggling in Europe. Almost 40% of the drugs seized were smuggled using the so-called rip-on/rip-off method, often supported by port employees. Robert Howe, Managing Director of Bremenports, highlights that the threat of organized crime poses a serious risk to port employees. Therefore, Howe says a combination of modern technology, well-trained staff and more officers is crucial to pushing back criminal structures in the port.

Another problem arises from the daily handling of tens of thousands of containers, which makes comprehensive control unrealistic. To counteract this, new scanners will help improve random checks and the establishment of a new customs terminal in the north of the port. Janina Strelow, the deputy group leader, also calls for greater attention to the reliability of port employees and increased awareness of the problem. “It is no longer enough to just rely on the introduction of new technologies,” says Strelow. “The people behind these structures are just as important.”

International cooperation

In the European context, a new initiative is also coming into focus. On November 29, 2023, Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden plans to establish a European Ports Alliance to combat drug trafficking and organized crime. Bremerhaven and Hamburg should also become an active part of this alliance. This cooperation could significantly raise security standards in German ports and increase the pressure on criminal organizations.

With the implementation of these measures and increased international cooperation, Bremen could potentially make a lasting contribution to combating drug smuggling. After all, current developments show that the pressure on the crème de la crème of the drug trade needs to be increased.