https://www.breitbart.com/latin-ame...r-8-billion-on-drug-trafficking-in-2024/

Report: Venezuela Made over $8 Billion on Drug Trafficking in 2024

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crknvr0nyp2o

Cocaine being dropped at sea for UK drug gangs to collect

https://www.kjct8.com/2025/03/22/how-drugs-are-making-their-way-into-our-community/

How drugs are making their way into our community

https://abcnews4.com/news/local/2-e...apagos-islands-united-states-coast-guard

2 Ecuadorians face South Carolina trial for 4,000-pound cocaine smuggling accusation

https://www.foxnews.com/us/sanctuar...s-endangering-americans-former-dea-agent

Sanctuary policies fuel Latin American gangs smuggling drugs, endangering Americans: former DEA agent

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-...1300-pounds-methamphetamine-two-separate

CBP officers discover over 1,300 pounds of methamphetamine in two separate seizures

https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local...nization-linked-to-beltran-leyva-cartel/

DOJ: 22 charged for role in drug trafficking organization linked to Beltran Leyva Cartel

March 22, 2025

Second largest cocaine lab in Europe dismantled
In the interior of Spain, the police have dismantled a very large laboratory for the processing of cocaine. According to the Spanish National Police, this lab was the second largest ever found in Europe. The police are only now announcing this, the raid was at the end of February.

Colombian “cooks”
The raid was carried out in the western province of Cáceres. Colombian “cooks” were at work there who, according to the police, could produce about a hundred kilo blocks of pressed “cocaine salt” daily from cocaine paste or liquid cocaine. An animal breeding farm of fighting cocks and hunting dogs was located on the premises, which served as a cover. The lab mainly produced from liquid cocaine.

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/03/24/119-kg-de-coke-saisis-dans-un-train-du-cn-a-montreal

119 kg of coke seized on a CN train in Montreal

https://vancouversun.com/news/accus...ustrates-complexity-us-canada-drug-trade

Accused B.C. fentanyl smuggler's case illustrates complexity of cross-border drug trade

https://www.foxnews.com/us/zombie-d...er-growing-threat-americans-doctor-warns

'Zombie drug' smuggled across southern border a growing threat to Americans, doctor warns
Doctor who studies xylazine, which makes fentanyl deadlier, says drug is being imported into US via Mexico

'Corrupt Spanish chief inspector helped smuggle 100 tons of cocaine'
The Spanish chief inspector of the National Police who is suspected of having been part of a criminal organization that smuggled cocaine on a very large scale for years, is said to have had a hand in the safe transport of more than 100,000 kilos of cocaine into Spain. This has emerged according to Spanish media in the investigation, which is partly based on chats from Sky ECC made readable by the police.

Detective surveillance photo: Sánchez Gil talking to co-suspect

https://www.crimesite.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Sanchez-Gil-.jpg

https://www.dw.com/en/syrias-dictator-is-gone-but-his-drug-dealers-are-still-busy/a-72033154

Syria's dictator gone — but his drug dealers are still busy

https://cbs12.com/news/local/70-day...arijuana-mohawk-coast-guardmarch-25-2025

70-day Coast Guard mission nets 4 tons of cocaine, 6 drug smugglers

https://calexicochronicle.com/2025/03/25/22-charged-in-imperial-valley-takedown-of-drug-traffickers/

22 Charged in Imperial Valley Takedown of Drug Traffickers
Violent Organization Linked to Beltran Leyva Cartel of Sinaloa, Mexico, By Way of Imperial County and Mexicali

https://wach.com/newsletter-daily/c...drug-smuggling-through-us-postal-service

Columbia man sentenced for drug smuggling through U.S. Postal Service

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/arti.../77-a0066d73-0010-4ecf-88dd-37fbe6c4c433

Man arrested for trafficking drugs with 2 children in car in Putnam County, sheriff's office says

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...antele-deux-laboratoires-clandestins.php

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has dismantled two clandestine synthetic drug manufacturing laboratories, one in a residence in Saint-Lin–Laurentides, in Lanaudière, the other in a commercial premises in Sorel, in Montérégie.

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...quant-ecope-de-11-ans-de-penitencier.php

Eight million dollars of drugs seized Trafficker gets 11 years in prison

https://www.bairdmaritime.com/secur...ts-boat-carrying-6m-in-illicit-narcotics

US Coast Guard busts boat carrying $6m in illicit narcotics

https://www.breitbart.com/border/20...-texas-based-narcotics-trafficking-ring/

Federal Agents Bust Texas-Based Narcotics Trafficking Ring

https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com...to-stem-the-flow-of-cocaine-into-europe/

Interview: Holland Struggles to Stem the Flow of Cocaine into Europe

https://indianexpress.com/article/i...it-from-firm-indicted-in-us-ats-9910206/

Two smuggling fentanyl inputs got it from firm indicted in US: ATS

https://cbs4local.com/news/immigrat...ry-with-16-lbs-of-meth-2-lbs-of-fentanyl

Teen driver caught at downtown port of entry with 16 lbs of meth, 2 lbs of fentanyl

https://www.europol.europa.eu/media...rish-high-risk-criminal-network-arrested

2 members of an Irish high-risk criminal network arrested

https://www.asiaone.com/world/italian-police-arrest-breaking-bad-fan-meth-lab-bust

Italian police arrest Breaking Bad fan in meth lab bust

https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/4138215/enforcing-the-law-at-sea-the-rise-of-drug-smugglers/

Enforcing the Law at Sea — The Rise of Drug Smugglers

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/stor...ll-captagon-trade-still-thrives-in-syria

Despite Assad’s Fall, Captagon Trade Still Thrives in Syria

https://nltimes.nl/2025/03/29/cocai...ars-new-tactics-bypass-detection-systems

Cocaine smuggling in Netherlands soars as new tactics bypass detection systems
Criminal groups are increasingly using sophisticated methods to smuggle cocaine into Europe, with up to 50 percent of the cocaine entering the continent hidden in materials like cardboard, concrete, and textiles, De Telegraaf reports. These methods make detection extremely difficult, according to Martin van Nes, national cocaine officer for the Dutch Public Prosecution Service. “Scanners in ports can’t detect it, sniffer dogs can’t smell it, and some on-site tests fail,” he told De Telegraaf.

As major European ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp face stricter controls, traffickers are turning to alternative routes through West Africa, Portugal, and Spain. This shift highlights how quickly criminal networks adapt. “Authorities may take years to improve port security, but criminals adjust in minutes,” Van Nes added.

The rise of “washed cocaine,” which is hidden in materials like concrete, also poses new challenges for authorities. The drug is processed in such a way that it’s virtually undetectable by traditional methods.

To address this growing threat, judicial officials from Latin America, Europe, and West Africa are meeting in Amsterdam. Their goal is to share intelligence and strategies to disrupt trafficking and dismantle criminal networks. Peter Huttenhuis, national officer overseeing criminal financial flows, emphasized that “every country has a piece of the puzzle,” and only through collaboration can they effectively fight the global drug trade.

The Netherlands plays a key role in the international drug market. Huttenhuis pointed out that in 2018, synthetic drug trafficking in the country was worth 19 billion euros—more than the export value of cheese and tulips. As traffickers adapt to tighter controls in major ports, they are increasingly using other European hubs, demonstrating the rapid adjustments of criminal groups.

The price of cocaine has dropped significantly in recent months, signaling an oversupply. The wholesale cost of a kilogram fell from 29,000 euros in September 2024 to around 17,000 euros today. Van Nes noted, “This is a clear sign that there is a huge amount of cocaine available, and it’s deeply concerning.”

The financial side of drug trafficking is evolving as criminals increasingly use underground banking systems and cryptocurrencies, particularly stablecoins tied to the U.S. dollar. Huttenhuis reported monitoring 20 to 30 key individuals involved in these operations, many of whom are Dutch nationals with Pakistani or Indian backgrounds.

Traditional, hierarchical criminal organizations are being replaced by more flexible networks. Criminals are now collaborating as freelancers and sometimes using corrupt port employees to facilitate their operations.