Dutch Customs Crack Down on Smuggling | Amsterdam News

Dutch Customs smashed records this year, seizing over 106 million illegal cigarettes—mostly hidden in shipping containers—highlighting tobacco smuggling as a top cash cow fueled by high EU taxes. To fight back, they’ve expanded the Smoke Joint Team and deployed a new Schiphol Airport algorithm that flags suitcases with more than one carton of cigarettes. Meanwhile, cocaine seizures jumped nearly 20,000 kg, while cannabis dropped sharply. Officials warn it’s too early to celebrate, as massive busts can distort yearly trends. Smugglers remain nimble, shifting tactics to smaller ports and even dropping packages into water for pickup—proving this high-stakes game is far from over. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e1f48b437ba6cb7f