A major report by the World Customs Organization (WCO) has revealed that over two-thirds of detected drug shipments involved individuals directly employed in the maritime cargo supply chain.
Analysing more than 2,600 drug seizures worldwide, totalling 1,347 tonnes, the report highlights the pivotal role of ‘internal conspirators’— employees who work with organised crime groups, either under duress or for profit — in facilitating cocaine and other drug trafficking.
According to the WCO, 68 per cent of drug detections showed some internal supply chain involvement, with these insiders responsible for 85 per cent of seizure events and 80 per cent of seized narcotics by volume.
Criminal groups increasingly target shipping containers, adapting tactics by shifting operations to smaller ports across Europe and using methods such as embedding drugs within container structures, attaching packages to vessels, or coordinating mid-sea drops.
WCO Secretary General, Ian Saunders, stated: “Illegitimate actors are undermining our collective efforts with industry to promote a system of trade that is safe, secure and free flowing. The sheer quantities of illicit narcotics being detected around the globe clearly demonstrate that those responsible are well-resourced, skilled and persistent.
“And they deserve to receive responses of equal focus and dedication. As threats continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, our approaches to addressing them must do so as well.”
The report also notes the growing use of GPS trackers and more complex concealment tactics, such as hiding cocaine in container voids and ceilings — particularly in refrigerated units — with retrieval often occurring at unsecured yards after customs clearance.
These evolving methods highlight significant vulnerabilities at various nodes of the maritime supply chain, including ports and terminals.
Recently, authorities seized a haul of cocaine at London Gateway Port worth nearly £100 million ($137.75 million).
