Several drug lords are said to have run a thriving cocaine trade in Europe from Dubai. After months of investigations, security forces strike and arrest almost 50 people. The police authorities also seized large quantities of cocaine.
Europol arrested 49 suspects in different countries in the dismantling of a large European cocaine smuggling network. Among them are six “high-ranking targets” in Dubai, according to the European police authority. These had joined together to form a “super cartel” that “controlled around a third of the cocaine trade in Europe,” explained Europol. There were further arrests in Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. In addition, 30 tons of cocaine were confiscated in the course of the investigation.
“The extent of the cocaine imports to Europe under the control of the suspects was massive,” Europol pointed out. Two of the six “high-ranking targets” had connections to the Netherlands, two to Spain and two to France. According to Dutch prosecutors, the suspect with links to the Netherlands is a 37-year-old man with Dutch and Moroccan citizenship who is said to have smuggled thousands of kilograms of cocaine into the Netherlands in 2020 and 2021.
A 40-year-old with a Dutch and Bosnian passport was also arrested. The Dutch public prosecutor’s office announced that it would apply to the United Arab Emirates for the extradition of the two suspects.
According to a statement, Europol became aware of the cartel as part of its intelligence activities. In the past two years, the agency has held more than ten meetings to bring investigators from different countries together and develop a common strategy. In addition, Europol continuously provided the officials on the ground with intelligence analyses. According to Europol, the arrests were made between November 8th and 19th.
Cocaine enters Europe via different routes. According to the UN, half comes directly from the cultivation countries Colombia, Peru and Bolivia or via neighboring South American countries. According to the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the Iberian Peninsula (especially Spain) and the Benelux countries (especially the Netherlands) are the most important entry points for the drug. France, Italy and Great Britain serve as important transit countries.
Drugs often take a detour via islands in the Caribbean. According to Europol, in recent years smugglers have also chosen alternative routes via West Africa. The transports sometimes take place via the intermediate stations in Brazil or South Africa.