It was a tip from German police that led to the Norwegian Customs and the police in Oslo making the biggest cocaine seizure in Norwegian history on Thursday evening. In banana crates, 820 kilograms of cocaine were found, valued at several hundred million kroner. The seizure was made at Bama. Arvid Utby, head of the investigative section for organized crime in Oslo, tells news that the police are now working on several hypotheses in connection with the seizure. Among the hypotheses is that the party was not intended for Norway at all. – But it is something we are investigating. We are working to discover whether there was a reception link in Norway or not, says Utby. The cocaine seizure is the largest in Norwegian history. Photo: the police Specific information At the same time, he says that the Customs Agency received specific information through its international cooperation that there was reason to investigate the specific shipment where the cocaine was found. The customs agency traced the shipment to a Bama warehouse in Oslo, where they made discoveries in dozens of crates. The customs agency then notified the Oslo police district, which is now leading the investigation into the cocaine seizure. – The Oslo police district is investigating the case as organized crime, and is investigating widely both nationally and internationally, says Utby to news. Arvid Utby, head of the intelligence section for organized crime in the Oslo police. Photo: The police When asked why the police have a theory that the shipment was never going to Norway, Utby replies that it is based on concrete information: – It is based on concrete information we have received from foreign police authorities. The quantity is also so large. Utby says it cannot be ruled out that the cocaine was intended for the Norwegian market, but that the volume is an indication that it was not intended for Norway. The cocaine seizure in Oslo is the largest in Norwegian history. Photo: POLICE Probably came by sea Utby goes on to say that the police have a strong hypothesis that the shipment came to Norway by sea. He does not want to say when it arrived in the country. – The exact time is part of the investigation, which is in the initial phase. So I can’t go into that further. He says that the police see the seizure made in Norway in connection with other seizures. – We are working on an international collaboration and see the seizure in Germany in connection with this, he says. The cocaine was found in banana boxes in a warehouse belonging to Bama. On Tuesday, 1,200 kilograms of cocaine were seized in banana crates in Germany. German police assume that the boxes have come from South America. They became aware that a similar party had gone to Norway, and therefore sent a tip north. – When it comes to such large quantities, you know that organized criminal networks, with contacts across national borders, are behind it, says Utby. Picture from the seizure made in Germany earlier this week. Photo: German police Increased production The police currently do not know with certainty where the cocaine comes from. – Both technical and tactical investigations have been carried out in the case. Several interrogations have also been carried out, says Utby. Senior researcher at FHI, Ola Røed Bilgrei, explains that the large seizure follows recent developments in Europe. – This is probably due to increased production in South America, as well as the fact that Europe is both the destination and the transit area for further smuggling to the Middle East and Asia. Until yesterday, a seizure in 2007 of 154 kilograms was the largest ever discovered in Norway. Cocaine was also found in banana crates in Oslo in 2013. Then the fitting was 145 kilos. Bama’s banana warehouse in Oslo. Photo: Emilie Waaler / news Norway does not stand out This is a well-known supply method for international drug trafficking. – Globally, cocaine is growing strongly, the seizure made in Oslo means that we are part of the world, and do not stand out so much, says Malin Stensønes. The author has followed the police’s fight against organized crime from the inside. She believes the most frightening thing is the threat organized crime poses to society. – Previously, Norway was a terminus for drugs, but now we see that Norwegian criminal networks operate like others. National borders no longer mean anything, she explains. – Norway is an integrated part of the global market, an expression of the fact that we have strong criminal circles in Norway that operate all over Europe, and the capacity to carry out serious crime. Wave of cocaine From 2019 to 2020, the seizure of cocaine increased by 2,000 tonnes worldwide. This is partly due to the fact that the process of turning coca leaves into powder has become more efficient. This contributes to the increasing global supply of the substance. The latest report from the UN Office for Organized Crime and Drugs supports this. The number of people using cocaine has also increased in recent years, and figures from FHI in 2022 show an increasing trend for young people growing up in Norway. Cocaine was the stimulant that most (2 per cent) reported having used in the last 12 months Europe has been hit by a “cocaine wave”, Europol stated last autumn. The figures show a dramatic increase in seizures every single year.
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The police show photos of the record-breaking cocaine seizure – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
