Why Belgium is now the cocaine capital of Europe

With record seizures of cocaine at Belgian ports, the country has become Europe’s cocaine-trafficking capital. As the flow of drugs increases, local authorities are struggling with corruption and violence.

00:00 – Antwerp: Europe’s cocaine trafficking capital
01:48 – How much cocaine gets seized?
03:18 – Why do traffickers choose the port of Antwerp?
05:54 – The entrepreneurial Balkan mafias
07:35 – How do cocaine mafias make a profit?
08:16 – Customs corruption
11:54 – How can Belgium halt its cocaine trade?
13:43 – Can legalising drugs help?

Sign up to our daily newsletter to keep up to date: https://econ.st/3HKmuzH

How much does cocaine cost around the world? https://econ.st/3DwCuVt

Has the war on drugs failed? https://econ.st/3NsFdSZ

How are Latin American politicians dealing with the war on drugs? https://econ.st/3OklHHv

Why is European organised crime thriving? https://econ.st/3mT5iy8

Is drug trafficking to blame for violence in Latin America? https://econ.st/3tzk691

Watch our previous film about global cocaine trafficking: https://econ.st/3b40tzi

50 Comments

  1. @chamberpot969 on June 10, 2024 at 5:27 pm

    In a word Antwerp.



  2. @JesusWasPunk on June 10, 2024 at 5:29 pm

    They tried legalizing hard drugs in Oregon 2 years ago. Didn’t work. The crime rate spiked. They are now backtracking.



  3. @3SecondsAgo on June 10, 2024 at 5:31 pm

    Do you idiots still believe making drugs illegal is going to prevent people from doing drugs? Do you all still truly believe that still somehow? You know what makes no sense about the Right-wingers and Left-wingers? The Right-wingers believe in small government, but believe drugs should be illegal. The Left-wingers believe drugs should be legal, but then believe in big government. It would make way more sense if you believed in small government and all drugs being legal like I do and a growing number of people do. Big government began in 1971 with Richard Nixon when he somehow really thought "drugs are public enemy number one"… and all you idiots still keep believing the propaganda put out by the DEA, FBI Drug Task Force, and the top doctors and pharmaceutical companies that push the DEA propaganda. You will never stop people like me from chosing drugs because we get too many benefits from it to quit them. The "war" on drugs is being lost more everyday. Nitrous oxide, kratom, THC, and CBD can now be bought at places. Next will be coca and khat. Anyways, thanks! That’s all.



  4. @muppetb.lansing8374 on June 10, 2024 at 5:32 pm

    Such a vast waste of public resources and potential tax revenue. All to keep drug prices artificially high so that organisations (including the CIA) can profit from them



  5. @marceli155 on June 10, 2024 at 5:32 pm

    Belgium is a most corrupt country in Europe ! Goverment is paid by Russian Mafia !



  6. @WendyReptalien on June 10, 2024 at 5:35 pm

    Legalize it



  7. @theirishbandit7301 on June 10, 2024 at 5:36 pm

    This is a real kick the Ballkins



  8. @cemdursun on June 10, 2024 at 5:39 pm

    Legalize it, have the farmers make the most money, study it, teach it, tax it, technologize it



  9. @billybunter5575 on June 10, 2024 at 5:40 pm

    we all know belgium is one of the worst corrupt countrys in the world and they took billions from the eu for the sake of the rich not the poor.



  10. @krazieman69 on June 10, 2024 at 5:41 pm

    Then why I was paying so much at Tomorrowland for coke?



  11. @kamatz4156 on June 10, 2024 at 5:41 pm

    👍



  12. @cicindelapragensis on June 10, 2024 at 5:42 pm

    It is concerning to hear authorities promoting the war on drugs, very costly and largely ineffective, as well as legalization which don’t solve the root causes of ever increasing drug consumption. Primary focus should be given to population’s mental health, addressing issues such as trauma, anxiety and depression.



  13. @orirosengarten2572 on June 10, 2024 at 5:42 pm

    Cocainum!



  14. @dlerman66 on June 10, 2024 at 5:47 pm

    Immigration…. Poverty… Lack of assimilation



  15. @doctorspook4414 on June 10, 2024 at 5:47 pm

    "Crimanl groups from the western balkans"….Just say albania, we all know it’s albania, everyone knows it’s albania!



  16. @lgjosad on June 10, 2024 at 5:47 pm

    diversity is our strength!



  17. @maxventuri-sn2mi on June 10, 2024 at 5:48 pm

    all you see in Belgium is kebab shops i couldn’t even find a waffle



  18. @samualloy on June 10, 2024 at 5:48 pm

    Legalisation, and regulation is the only solution but unfortunately, the majority of voters are still from Reagan era and are indoctrinated to only respond in fear when it comes to changes in drug policy. Frustrating that despite the best medical advice and evidence supporting legalisation and regulation, we’ll have to wait for a lot of voters to grow old and die before braver politicians will get voted in. Meanwhile we’ll continue to see the criminal violence and the health and societal effects of drug cartels. The perfect example is US conservatives who on one hand support the 2nd amendment and right to bear arms in the name of anti-regulation despite the very clear evidence of harm (gun violence is now the highest cause of childhood mortality in the states) yet are fiercely against legalisation and regulation of drugs when the evidence is clear that it has mortality benefit. The hypocrisy can only be explained by indoctrination and fear as its obviously irrational and hypocritical. Marijuana was a big hurdle and is a sign of hope but as usual, reform is always decades behind the evidence. Can’t teach old dogs new tricks. Identity politics, COVID fall out and immigration concerns may have temporarily halted progressive reform as most are too simple to separate issues and just pick blue or red. Our grandchildren will look back on these issues with confusing amusement at how we banged our head against a brick wall for so long when it came to drug policy.



  19. @Ongewoon1 on June 10, 2024 at 5:51 pm

    1:24 it is in the Netherlands NOT Belgium!



  20. @johnalf-yd2uw on June 10, 2024 at 5:52 pm

    Belgian citizens are being crushed by arabic and albanian drugs traffickers who laugh at the belgian state.



  21. @swissfreedom7594 on June 10, 2024 at 5:52 pm

    Well that where the politicians are. Not that hard to put 2 and 2 together….



  22. @daminc on June 10, 2024 at 5:56 pm

    Because unelected EU bureaucrats need more drugs 😅



  23. @johnbsavageiii on June 10, 2024 at 5:56 pm

    Anything to do w all the rich people



  24. @virgilioblanco on June 10, 2024 at 5:56 pm

    Those that pretend a "War on Drugs" actually use the millitary to protect it’s production.



  25. @ForbiddenMunkar on June 10, 2024 at 5:57 pm

    The War on drugs has never ended, can you still call it a WAR?



  26. @AngelaVlahos on June 10, 2024 at 5:58 pm

    hello



  27. @jamesdaly7664 on June 10, 2024 at 5:58 pm

    Severe corruption



  28. @jobyjoe1 on June 10, 2024 at 5:59 pm

    Brass eye…



  29. @OsonimateK on June 10, 2024 at 5:59 pm

    f u legalise everything all this scam of war drug governments use to destabilise society to put more control would end. each person should have the right to take whatever they want. anyway food, sugar , medicines alcohol cigarettes etc are killing people in a way bigger scale than drugs.



  30. @bartenhardbdfnfn on June 10, 2024 at 6:00 pm

    leftist management



  31. @AKAK-rh7lr on June 10, 2024 at 6:01 pm

    That cop is out of his mind if he believes he’s catching 10-20% 😂😂



  32. @Sy_hh on June 10, 2024 at 6:01 pm

    Concerning end bit about legalization. Just look how well that turned out for Portland



  33. @juvehearts on June 10, 2024 at 6:01 pm

    make it fucken legal and tax it



  34. @telezma7878 on June 10, 2024 at 6:03 pm

    Morons…



  35. @1980HiphopFunk on June 10, 2024 at 6:05 pm

    Make it legal.



  36. @pablotwist97 on June 10, 2024 at 6:07 pm

    Surely Belgium couldn’t be the capital if it’s a country…



  37. @Doidera-vo7cg on June 10, 2024 at 6:07 pm

    how did it happen??? hahahahha,



  38. @marceli155 on June 10, 2024 at 6:10 pm

    Simply !because those in power are corrupt!



  39. @joseconejo5338 on June 10, 2024 at 6:12 pm

    Because America is there that’s how why do you think they have a war on drugs so they can make money



  40. @Deadly1996 on June 10, 2024 at 6:13 pm

    1:25 REAL police uniforms that were stolen. But I’m not surprised, really not hard to get our hands on sadly



  41. @PrayForGoodPing on June 10, 2024 at 6:15 pm

    Congrats Belgium , hard to be the best of something so being the best of the best(especially this) is a hard feat



  42. @lukea666 on June 10, 2024 at 6:15 pm

    They say this about every capital in the E.U.



  43. @user-ee1dy6qt2r on June 10, 2024 at 6:16 pm

    Kurdish turkish and arab refugees doing dope trafficking at Europe



  44. @t.c.4321 on June 10, 2024 at 6:17 pm

    Here is why, two words: Moroccan Immigration



  45. @GHOSTsq on June 10, 2024 at 6:19 pm

    U would make more money if u gave fines for the quantities



  46. @AKAK-rh7lr on June 10, 2024 at 6:21 pm

    Crazy how they employ laws like this and than act surprised when bad stuff happens



  47. @MrWhangdoodles on June 10, 2024 at 6:21 pm

    This comments section is riddled with ads and bots. It’s incredibly disappointing. Clean up your messages, Economist.



  48. @DeathCluntch on June 10, 2024 at 6:22 pm

    I think right now it’s Washington



  49. @koenraadespeel3487 on June 10, 2024 at 6:23 pm

    Now you know who is responsible for all the misery.



  50. @S.R.S.2020 on June 10, 2024 at 6:23 pm

    No more the Chocolate Capital of Europe ! 😮