Europe’s major ports, including Rotterdam and Antwerp, have historically been prime targets for drug traffickers. However, there has been a notable change, with smaller ports in Northern Europe and Scandinavia increasingly becoming focal points for drug smuggling. This shift necessitates a new strategy from law enforcement.
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard (S) made this observation during a press conference after Monday’s European Port Alliance meeting.
“Previously, drugs predominantly came through large ports like Rotterdam, Le Havre, Antwerp, and Hamburg,” he noted. “Since the establishment of the European Port Alliance, we’ve aided local authorities in combating smuggling, but we are now witnessing a ‘waterbed effect,’ where smaller and medium-sized ports have emerged as new targets for drug trafficking,” he explained, citing Helsingborg as an example and highlighting concerns about Aarhus port in Denmark regarding drug smuggling.
Hummelgaard emphasized the need for collaboration among authorities to devise new strategies against smuggling. “We need to learn from other countries. The Dutch minister mentioned drugs are still being trafficked through Rotterdam, but there is also a shift to smaller ports in the Netherlands. Therefore, collaboration is essential,” he stated.
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, believes that the authorities’ efforts have begun to yield results, noting that 1,800 tons of drugs were seized in European ports from 2019 to 2024. However, he acknowledged that challenges persist.
“When we improve our efforts to stop drugs in one area, traffickers will inevitably seek alternative routes. It is a cat-and-mouse game,” Brunner remarked. He added that the port alliance has enhanced surveillance at larger ports through increased investments in scanners and improved information sharing.
However, he stressed that focusing solely on the major ports is insufficient: “We need to expand the port alliance and include smaller ports in our efforts,” Brunner stated.
This meeting of the port alliance precedes the EU countries’ justice and interior ministers meeting in Copenhagen on Tuesday and Wednesday, where discussions will center on tackling organized crime and “irregular migration.” Denmark, known for its strict migration policies, is expected to contribute to tightening migration policies at the European level during its presidency, which concludes on January 1, 2026.
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