
Drug smugglers use Oslo port as gateway to Europe
Oslo’s mayor, Anne Lindboe, informed NRK that an unprecedented quantity of narcotics is being smuggled into Norway, and customs lacks the personnel and equipment to inspect all incoming containers at Oslo Port. Following increased security at the Antwerp port, smugglers are diverting to Oslo. Over eight billion Norwegian kroner worth of drugs have passed through Oslo Port, prompting calls for greater resources. There’s a deficit in manpower and equipment for checks; Oslo shares one scanner with other cities and relies on handheld devices when the scanner is unavailable. Norway’s youth have the third-highest cocaine usage rate in Europe, and the Norwegian customs seized a record amount of drugs in 2023, more than the previous ten years combined. The government has proposed increased funding for customs to combat drug smuggling.