EU sees drug crime as threatening as terrorism, says must fight on European level

FILE PHOTO: Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs attends a press conference at the first informal ministerial meeting during the Swedish EU Presidency, Stockholm, Sweden, January 26, 2023. Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency/via REUTERS

ANTWERP (Reuters) - The EU regards organised drug crime as threatening as terrorism and wants to tackle the fight against it on a European level, Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said on Tuesday during a visit to Belgium’s port of Antwerp, Europe's main entrance for cocaine.

Last year, a record 110 tons of cocaine was intercepted at the Antwerp port, accounting for 40% of all seizures in Europe. But local custom authorities estimate that is only 10 to 15% of the total cocaine smuggled into the port.