2023-11-05 13:07:00
Two Antwerp port workers were threatened by armed individuals on Friday evening, near a customs post, the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office announced on Saturday. “Two people, who are subcontracted workers for the customs service, were attacked and threatened by a number of suspects. They were targeting a container stored on customs grounds.”says Stéphanie Chomé, spokeswoman for the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The thugs may have been looking for a consignment of drugs, but the exact circumstances of the incident remain to be investigated.
The suspects – three people according to initial information – were armed with a knife which they used to threaten the workers. They took away some of their victims’ personal belongings.
On site, customs staff are increasingly worried. “Mentally, the shock is enormous. Luckily, no one was physically injured. This is not the first incident in Antwerp, and it will not be the last. Drug seizures by customs continue to increase . And therefore, the criminal environment will probably act in a more determined manner.”warns Johan Lippens, public service union representative – ACV (CSC).
A few hours before this incident, customs intercepted 7.5 tonnes of cocaine, hidden in a shipment of bananas coming from Ecuador. This represents 487.5 million euros. This encourages traffickers to take risks to recover their goods… “We are indeed very concerned by the escalation that we have seen on the ground in recent weeks. All these facts are linked to drug trafficking and the importation of narcotics via the port of Antwerp”continues the spokesperson for the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office.
The unions are demanding permanent police reinforcements and bulletproof vests for customs officers.
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