French customs at Dunkirk uncovered 3.9 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a container declared as plastic waste from Ghana, halting a shipment bound for the Netherlands. Authorities estimate the cargo's value at about €225 million and arrested a suspect in Dordrecht. Investigators say part of the load was linked to fugitive Dutch trafficker Jos Leijdekkers ('Bolle Jos'), who is on Europol's Most Wanted list and reportedly in Sierra Leone. The case underscores increased Dutch focus on cocaine routes from West Africa.
Massive Drug Bust: 3.9 Tonnes Of Cocaine Seized At Dunkirk Port
ILLUSTRATION - Cocaine pictured during a press conference at the Customs Criminal Investigation Office in Cologne. (is associated with: «Tons of cocaine seized in Dunkirk en route to Netherlands») Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
French and Dutch investigators have intercepted a major cocaine shipment after French customs discovered 3.9 tonnes of the drug in a container at the port of Dunkirk. The consignment, declared as plastic waste from Ghana and bound for Antwerp en route to the Netherlands, was estimated to be worth around €225 million (about $261 million), prosecutors said.
Details of the Operation
Customs officials in Dunkirk opened the container during routine inspections and, following a targeted operation, confirmed the presence of a large quantity of cocaine. The public prosecutors' offices in The Hague and Paris said a suspect believed to be responsible for moving the drugs into the Netherlands was arrested in the Dutch city of Dordrecht.
Links To Organized Crime
Investigators said intelligence indicated part of the shipment was intended for the criminal network linked to Dutch trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, widely known by the nickname 'Bolle Jos.' Leijdekkers is a longstanding fugitive listed on Europol's Most Wanted list and was last reported to be in Sierra Leone, where authorities say the government is not cooperating with Dutch extradition requests.
Broader Context
Dutch judicial authorities have stepped up efforts to disrupt cocaine trafficking routes from West Africa, which are increasingly prominent in large-scale smuggling operations. Prosecutors noted this seizure follows another recent major interception earlier this year: a 30-tonne cocaine shipment seized off the West African coast in May by the Spanish Navy working with Dutch police.
Significance: The Dunkirk interception highlights continued international cooperation in customs and law enforcement and the growing focus on West Africa as a transit region for large cocaine shipments to Europe.
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