In the hands of the cocaine mafia - How European ports are being infiltrated | DW Documentary

Some dock workers are living dangerously - because they also work for the mafia. International syndicates can only locate containers with cocaine shipments and smuggle them out of ports with the help of insiders.

Some drivers, logistics specialists, and IT employees don't just work for transport companies and shipping lines, but also, secretly, for the mafia. Without the support of these local helpers, international syndicates wouldn't be able to locate cocaine shipments from South America among the thousands of containers. Nor would they be able to smuggle them out of the port, past the controls. Police and customs investigators refer to such individuals as "insiders" or simply "the door." Because they open Europe's ports to the mafia.

After Rotterdam and Antwerp, the Port of Hamburg has become the largest gateway for cocaine smuggling, with delivery destinations throughout Europe. It's thought that authorities only find between 10 and 20 percent of the cocaine that is smuggled in, in this way.

To keep this billion-dollar business running, the mafia relies on a growing number of insiders with relevant expertise. To stop these recruitment attempts, customs and police authorities joined forces with port operators in 2024 to establish the new Port Security Center. The film accompanies investigators as they conduct truck and container inspections with a dog team, or using a mobile X-rays.

The film also provides insights into investigations in Rotterdam. One real-life case shows how the mafia and port criminals operate: from the arrival of a container ship from Ecuador with 600 kilograms of cocaine on board, hidden in banana crates, to the criminal logistics on the quay, to the eventual arrest.

What attracts the perpetrators is money. Those providing logistics services to the cocaine mafia can expect to earn four-to-five-figure sums per job. The problem is, once you're involved with these criminal organizations, it can be difficult to get out. And if you get caught, the penalties are harsh.

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