Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has ordered the closure of a storage unit in the city’s Food Centre for six months after a consignment of 1.2 tonnes of cocaine, intercepted at the port of Vlissingen in August, was found to be destined for the location. The council stated that keeping the unit open would pose a serious risk to public safety, and the closure aims to restore public order immediately.

The drugs were discovered on August 8, concealed within a shipment of bananas originating from Colombia. Following the discovery, a 43-year-old man from Amsterdam was arrested a week later, leading to searches of two company premises.

According to reports, law enforcement officials removed the bulk of the cocaine, leaving a 30-gram sample, and allowed the banana shipment to proceed to its intended destination. The sample was subsequently found at the storage unit that is now subject to closure.

The Food Centre, a distribution hub for numerous food wholesale businesses, is undergoing partial redevelopment into a residential area.

Police figures indicate a significant surge in cocaine smuggling through the port of Vlissingen in 2023, with the amount nearly tripling. The port serves as a primary entry point for bananas and other fresh fruits from South America.