The Netherlands – Mocro Mafia & Drug Trafficking
Introduction
Organized crime in the Netherlands has surged alongside the booming cocaine trade, with the Mocro Mafia at the center of the crisis. Once believed to be under control, the network has demonstrated its power through increasingly violent tactics, including the assassinations of a key witness, his lawyer, and investigative journalist Peter R. de Vries. Fuelled by billions in drug profits, the Mocro Mafia has extended its influence deep into society through corruption, intimidation, and violence.
This documentary examines how cocaine smuggling through major European ports such as Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg has transformed the Netherlands into a key hub for the international drug trade. It also explores the ongoing Marengo trial, the largest criminal case in Dutch history, which has exposed the inner workings of the organization and the challenges facing law enforcement.
Through interviews with investigators, journalists, and experts, the documentary reveals how organized crime, corruption, and the cocaine trade have become intertwined, testing the resilience of Dutch institutions and raising questions about how governments can respond to increasingly powerful criminal networks.
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Quotes
"8.5 million containers enter Europe's largest port every year. Controlling everything is impossible and drug dealers know that … The port is 42 kilometers long and many places can only be reached by police boat … The port is so huge they’re sometimes on the move for hours."
"It started in 2012 with a stolen load of cocaine in the harbor of Antwerp, that’s where it started. Then it expired into a total way that up till now is causing people to be killed. It’s a war that is about power, it’s about control of the harbor, about cocaine, a lot of money, and it’s about who controls the underworld."
"40 tons of it [cocaine] was seized here last year alone but much more gets through. The total estimate for the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg combined is 1,300 tons. Prime destinations for South American suppliers, most of the cocaine is distributed in the Netherlands where most of the gangs are based."1
"The authorities estimate one kilo has a street value of around 50 000 euros. Often several tons are found in one go … This is an extremely lucrative market that’s defended by all possible means including violence. The so-called Mocro Mafia is active in some Amsterdam neighbourhoods. Many of its members have Moroccan roots, hence the name."
"The attack on lawyer Derk Wiersum in September 2019. He was defending a key witness in a high-profile mafia trial. Wiersum was gunned down in broad daylight."
"Ridouan Taghi is thought to be one of the leaders of the Mocro Mafia. After being brought back to the Netherlands, he is now the principal suspect in what’s known as the Marengo trial, the country’s highest profile mafia trial to date. 17 suspects are standing trial for alleged involvement in a string of murders and attempted murders."2
"Of course, we’re trying to seize as many drugs as possible and arrest suspects, but I don’t have the utopian belief that we’ll stop it but there’s no question of giving up – that’s simply not an option. No one in the Netherlands believes that the world will ever be completely free of drug trafficking and crime, particularly as long as the demand for cocaine continues to grow."
1 Europol reports that only a small percentage of containers entering European ports are inspected, meaning that law enforcement is able to intercept only a fraction of the illicit goods trafficked through major shipping hubs.
2 In February 2024, Ridouan Taghi was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple murders, attempted murders, and drug-trafficking offenses following the nearly six-year Marengo trial, the largest criminal case in Dutch history.
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Brenda H.
BA Psych, Grad. Cert. Addictions & Mental Health
Driven by a deep personal connection to these topics, I created AMH Resources to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and everyday support. I watch, read, and summarize a wide range of free resources to help you navigate the overwhelming amount of information available and find what resonates with your journey.