Antwerp – Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten and Antwerp Mayor Els van Doesburg addressed the alarming rise in drug crimes, youth protection, and cross-border cocaine trafficking during a meeting in Antwerp. Their predecessors, Ahmed Aboutaleb and Bart De Wever, had previously intercepted significant drug shipments, reports 24brussels.
The discussion, reported by VRT News, came as both mayors recognized the pressing challenges posed by public safety and drug-related violence in their cities. Schouten, who has served as Rotterdam’s mayor for a year following her role as Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, indicated the urgency of addressing these issues. Van Doesburg, although new to politics, expressed her eagerness to leverage Schouten’s experience, emphasizing the potential for increased collaboration between Antwerp and Rotterdam.
“I was pleasantly surprised that we share similar views on many issues. We can also do a lot together, especially when it comes to safety,” Van Doesburg stated.
What are Rotterdam and Antwerp doing to fight drug crime?
The mayors highlighted an escalating problem with drug-related crime, which has included serious attacks on residents, such as firebombs targeting homes. Police have apprehended numerous suspects, many of whom are young individuals from Rotterdam. Despite the economic competition between their ports, both mayors affirmed that collaboration is essential in combating crime.
“We have to make sure that young people do not fall for quick money and risk a criminal record or prison,” Schouten said, reinforcing their shared commitment to preventing youth from entering criminal networks.
“We must ensure that young people do not fall for the quick money and risk a criminal record and imprisonment.”
Carola Schouten (Christian Union), mayor of Rotterdam
Their predecessors had also engaged in cooperative efforts against drug trafficking, overcoming political differences to establish a united front. Aboutaleb and De Wever notably traveled together to South American nations known for coca production in an effort to intercept shipments bound for Europe.
While Schouten and Van Doesburg have not yet scheduled any joint international trips, they have not dismissed the prospect. Any future travels would focus on security efforts rather than leisure activities. “It will not be a pleasure trip to Ibiza,” they remarked.
In early 2024, the mayors of Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg initiated a collaborative campaign against drug-related crime stemming from cocaine trafficking in Europe, a response to record drug seizures at major ports. In 2023, Antwerp reported a seizure of 116 tonnes of cocaine; the Netherlands accounted for 59.1 tonnes, and Germany for 35 tonnes, primarily from South American countries including Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador.
This coalition has involved earlier visits to Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica in 2022 to enhance international cooperation aimed at cutting off shipments at their origin. In February 2024, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa met with the mayors in Quito to discuss collaborative strategies against drug trafficking originating from Ecuadorian ports. Such international efforts have been instrumental in intercepting substantial drug shipments before they reach Europe.
