It has been called the “cocaine coast” – the harbor in Helsingborg. As the Nordic region’s largest import port for fruit and vegetables, not least from South America, it is of great interest to smugglers.
The refrigerated containers that transport bananas, for example, offer more hiding places than the traditional ones. Both the cooling hatches at the back and the partition have been used by the smugglers.
Last year, customs seized a record amount of 863 kilos of cocaine in Helsingborg – two-thirds of the total seized nationally.
– It is highly interesting traffic that goes here, says Martin Peterson. And it has escalated.
140 containers per week – a scanner to share
With an inflow of around 140 containers per week from South America, primarily Ecuador, control is a challenge. Not least because the scanner, which can scan an entire container for deviations in just one minute, is shared between six ports in Region South.
When TV4Nyheterna follows a control, the staff can use hand-held scanner devices.
– If we had a fixed scanner here in the port of Helsingborg, we could in principle have been able to control the problem with the introduction of cocaine, says group leader Niklas Delin.
“It’s about an incredible amount of money”
The port of Helsingborg has admitted shortcomings in the shell protection, which allowed unauthorized persons to enter the area and whitewash containers of contraband cocaine. Now they want to increase security and, among other things, have applied to become a so-called civil protection object.
In addition, together with the Port of Gothenburg, it will be included in the EU’s new cooperation European Ports Alliance, which aims to reduce the flow of cocaine into the Union.
– This is traffic that involves an incredible amount of money. Our adversary has the means to develop new methods of smuggling. We have to make sure we keep up with that, says Bart Steijaert, CEO of the Port of Helsingborg.
Dock workers on trial
One of the identified and growing threats is the risk of corruption or pressure on individuals in the transport chain. In Helsingborg, a dock worker is currently on trial on suspicion of aiding and abetting several smuggling attempts.
– We take it very seriously. Of course I can’t comment on it more than that, the legal process has to run its course, says Bart Steijaert.
Customs’ Martin Petersson believes that the long-term solution must be about the use of cocaine.
– It is demand that simply needs to decrease. Customs will be able to control a lot, but we will never be able to take everything. As long as there is a demand, there is someone who will meet the supply.