Why Belgium is now the cocaine capital of Europe

With record seizures of cocaine at Belgian ports, the country has become Europe’s cocaine-trafficking capital. As the flow of drugs increases, local authorities are struggling with corruption and violence.

00:00 - Antwerp: Europe’s cocaine trafficking capital
01:48 - How much cocaine gets seized?
03:18 - Why do traffickers choose the port of Antwerp?
05:54 - The entrepreneurial Balkan mafias
07:35 - How do cocaine mafias make a profit?
08:16 - Customs corruption
11:54 - How can Belgium halt its cocaine trade?
13:43 - Can legalising drugs help?

[RealConstructor]

The fact that Belgium (Antwerp) took first place from The Netherlands (Rotterdam) is that in the Rotterdam harbor a lot of customs officers have been arrested a few years ago because they were corrupted by the drugs maffia. They let the containers through the port uncontrolled by customs. The new customs office on the Maasvlakte (Rotterdam harbor) has scanning streets for container trucks. Containers are now randomly chosen by a computer to go through the scan streets. Customs officers aren’t the ones who point out the containers, which need to be scanned, anymore. The succes rate of customs has gone up considerably, to such an extent that the business model of the drugs maffia came in dangerous territory. They fled to Antwerp. Now Belgium is starting to do the same as The Netherlands did, step up policing and customs control. The waterbed effect will push the drugs maffia to other ports, like Hamburg and Le Havre. It won’t disappear, I’m afraid.

[Alyssatanner]

I love these type of videos They give me so much motivation and inspiration to do more with my life

[honey]

Belgian here. My country is definitely not boring. It is small with a lot of places to visit, great food and entertainment.

[deltabeta]

Congrats Belgium on this glorious achievement

[houseplant]

België altijd aan de top. Eindelijk zijn we boven de Nederlanders 💪💪💪

[BostonsFnest]

This is how you make a short documentary Vice. You show actual clips, maps, and information on the subject. It’s not just some kid sitting in a room talking about the social consequences of drugs.

[lydacious]

I'm American living in the UK. This story is so disturbing. I had no idea how powerful drug cartels are here in Europe. I will tell you I'm from L.A. Hearing this story makes me think of the states. The guy who said "if things keep going this way, Antwerp will become a narco state, I'm sure he is right. So many dark stories in the world. I'm very sad about this story. Belgium is an absolutely beautiful country. I hate to hear this is happening there.

[jackbills]

I can't help thinking about what the best chances to contribute now are, there are suppositions however a little later I figure out these conclusions don't make any difference as an entirely unexpected development work out with the stocks they examined in that..

[thePyiott]

This level of trafficking doesn't happen without some inside men in key positions in different businesses and institutions around in Europe. This is not a problem just for Belgium. These organizations operate in all of Europe as proven by the goods trafficked. Most operations by the police are completely meaningless, as stated in this video the losses are accounted for. I don't believe anything will be done unless someone with an extreme level of drive and competence takes the initiative.

[bulevartz]

In Bulgaria they say if you cant buy something with money, then you have to buy it with a lots of money.

[invinoveritas]

Very informative.Thank you Economist !!!

[antondewolf]

The police footage is actually the Dutch police, not the Belgian police. And the map at 1:03 is Zeebrugge, not Antwerp.

[lazylump]

The capture by the police of those containers happened in the Netherlands in the province of Brabant. it was enormous news in the Netherlands at the time. It is possible that it also happened in Belgium but in those photos the uniforms were Dutch.

[AKAK-rhlr]

That cop is out of his mind if he believes he’s catching 10-20% 😂😂

[AgustinNavia-cgrg]

I remember several years ago I suffered from severe depression and mental disorder. I was addicted to illicit pills, alcohol, and smoking until I was recommended for psilocybin mushroom treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly I'm 8 years clean now. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against anxiety and depression.

[larrydanadavid]

Belgium is a wonderful country. Full of delicious cuisine and outstanding beer culture. World class chocolatier shops in charming historic medieval cities. Definitely not boring, especially not now that the coke has arrived.

[durusveritas]

It has penetraded all levels of society in Belgium.. In the last years I have found myself in a unique position to see the many different walks of life this drug was found it's way in. Law enforcement, justice workers, managers CEO's, dentists, house mom's, construction workers, lawyers, ice-cream vendors, to the small business owners, in the smallest of villages to the cream of civilization, It's everywhere, dirt cheap and easy to get. Coke is so accessible it is only two links or two phonecalls away. Law enforcement in Belgium just don't have the recourses to combat or slow down the coke economy. Within 10 years cartels and drug gangs will have infiltrated in the most sensitive positions rendering all efforts to combat the industry useless.

[Forzntu]

This is insane. This feels like a real it can’t be stopped at this level. This have crossed into legitimate business.

[benjaminwachold]

It would take someone with determination to fix this problem. You probably have people being paid off by drug cartels in key positions within a organization. It would take tremendous cooperation between law enforcement agencies to even make a dent. I remember the war between the Bosnians and Serbs when Milosovich was convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity by the international court. I think 🤔 he was ultimately hanged for the ethnic cleansing that occurred. Why are addiction rates so high among poor people ?Criminal organizations cooperate better than law enforcement? I’ve heard that legalizing drugs would take power away from drug cartels.

[waasar]

"Belgium, ridiculed by some for being boring"
Is that really The Economists' intro? That is the characterization of Belgium you came up with?