Belgian customs seized 7.4 tonnes of cannabis hidden in a brick container from Laos at Antwerp's Waasland port on 20 December 2018. The finance ministry called it one of the port's largest recent cannabis seizures and valued the load at 59 million euros.
Belgian customs intercepted a container holding 7.4 tonnes of cannabis in the
port of Antwerp in late December 2018.[1]The discovery was made on 20
December in the Waasland part of the port, but it was only made public in
January 2019.[2]On that day officers inspected quay 1742 and found a
container filled with bricks and drugs that had come from Laos.[2]
Belgium’s finance ministry confirmed the seizure and described it as one of the
largest cannabis seizures in the port area in recent years.[1]The
confirmation came from the Federal Public Service Finance.[2]Authorities
estimated the street value of the cannabis at 59 million euros.[2]
Drug seizures are frequent in the port of Antwerp, especially cocaine.[1]The
seizure was therefore described as quite unusual because large quantities found
there are generally cocaine.[2]In early 2018 customs had seized a record
7,000 kilos of cocaine hidden in a container of bananas in the same port.[1]
Case data
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RTBFrtbf.beFRUne cargaison exceptionnelle de cannabis découverte dans le port d'Anvers
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No arrests, charges, suspects or court outcome were reported.
The reports give the discovery date as 20 December without a year; 2018 is inferred because the seizure is described as in late December and published on 9 January 2019.
The cannabis type, such as herbal cannabis or resin, was not specified.
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