Bremen raises the alarm: Harbor is supposed to fight cocaine smuggling rigoros!

Bremen raises the alarm: Harbor is supposed to fight cocaine smuggling rigoros!

In a crucial initiative to combat drug trade, the Bremen SPD faction presented plans to tighten the drug controls in the port of Bremerhaven. 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 ensured impressive 1.8 tons of cocaine, an increase of almost 1.4 tons compared to the previous year. This development underlines the urgency of a more effective handling, especially since around 70% of the cocaine via South American countries such as Colombia and Peru. The port of Bremerhaven is increasingly perceived as less well secured, since the safety precautions in Antwerp and Rotterdam have been reinforced, which favors criminal activities in Bremerhaven.

The planned measures are part of a comprehensive package that will soon be decided by the Bremen Citizenship. These include: the increase in the number of customs officials, the acquisition of additional container X-ray systems and an intensification of targeted searches. Protecting the ensured drugs is also to be improved. In addition, strengthening international cooperation between the authorities is sought to weaken the criminal structures in the port. Güngör explains that these steps are necessary in order to counter the drug criminals and to increase the security in the ports. "In other European countries, it is already successfully taken against this drug trade," he adds.

challenges in the port

The location is not without challenges. According to Nicole Tödter, the head of the main customs office in Bremen, Bremerhaven is considered one of the largest gate of pens for drug smuggling in Europe. Almost 40% of the seized drugs were smuggled with the so-called RIP-ON/RIP-OFF method, often supported by port employees. Robert Howe, Managing Director of Bremenports, emphasizes that the threat caused by organized crime is a serious risk for the port employees. Therefore, Howe says that a combination of modern technology, well -trained staff and more civil servants are crucial to push the criminal structures back in port.

Another problem results from the daily handling of tens of thousands of containers, which makes a comprehensive control unrealistic. In order to counteract this, new scanners should contribute to improving the random checks and the establishment of a new customs terminal in the north of the port. Janina Strelow, the deputy parliamentary group leader, also pays attention to the reliability of the port employees and sensitization to the problem. "It is no longer enough to only rely on the introduction of new technologies," said Strelow. "The people behind these structures are just as important."

international cooperation

In the European context, a new initiative also focuses on. On November 29, 2023, Belgian Interior Minister Annelies is planning to found a European harbor alliance to act against drug trafficking and organized crime. Bremerhaven and Hamburg should also become an active part of this alliance. This cooperation could significantly raise the security standards in German ports and increase the pressure on criminal organizations.

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