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Inside Europe's ‘cocaine capital' where gangsters bomb cafes & gun down CHILDREN in terrifying wave of drug violence

Inside Europe's ‘cocaine capital' where gangsters bomb cafes & gun down CHILDREN in terrifying wave of drug violence

Scottish Sun10 hours ago

ONCE famous for its diamonds and cobbled charm, this picturesque port city is now better known for something far more sinister.
Welcome to Europe's cocaine capital, where gangland feuds erupt in drive-by shootings, children are caught in the crossfire, and the white powder trade is so booming it's built a literal 'cocaine-berg'.
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Belgian customs officers search for drugs in a container at Antwerp's port
Credit: AFP
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A Belgian Malinois dog of a customs K9 unit inspects crates
Credit: AFP
14
Drug gangs have turned the city into a hotbed of violence
Antwerp, a North Sea city of 530,000, has become the main gateway for cocaine flooding into Europe.
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Inside Europe's ‘cocaine capital' where gangsters bomb cafes & gun down CHILDREN in terrifying wave of drug violence
Inside Europe's ‘cocaine capital' where gangsters bomb cafes & gun down CHILDREN in terrifying wave of drug violence

Scottish Sun

time10 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Inside Europe's ‘cocaine capital' where gangsters bomb cafes & gun down CHILDREN in terrifying wave of drug violence

ONCE famous for its diamonds and cobbled charm, this picturesque port city is now better known for something far more sinister. Welcome to Europe's cocaine capital, where gangland feuds erupt in drive-by shootings, children are caught in the crossfire, and the white powder trade is so booming it's built a literal 'cocaine-berg'. 14 Belgian customs officers search for drugs in a container at Antwerp's port Credit: AFP 14 A Belgian Malinois dog of a customs K9 unit inspects crates Credit: AFP 14 Drug gangs have turned the city into a hotbed of violence Antwerp, a North Sea city of 530,000, has become the main gateway for cocaine flooding into Europe. In

Israel v Iran LIVE: Iran says Israeli strikes are ‘declaration of war' after nuke sites blasted & generals assassinated
Israel v Iran LIVE: Iran says Israeli strikes are ‘declaration of war' after nuke sites blasted & generals assassinated

Scottish Sun

time2 days ago

  • Scottish Sun

Israel v Iran LIVE: Iran says Israeli strikes are ‘declaration of war' after nuke sites blasted & generals assassinated

THIS MEANS WAR Israel v Iran LIVE: Iran says Israeli strikes are 'declaration of war' after nuke sites blasted & generals assassinated IRAN has branded Israel's deadly strikes on its military and nuclear facilities a 'declaration of war'. In a letter to the UN, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack and 'called on the Security Council to immediately address this issue,' according to the ministry. 7 Smoke rises up after an explosion in Tehran, Iran on Friday Credit: AP 7 Damaged buildings in Nobonyad Square following Israeli airstrikes in Tehran, Iran Credit: Getty 7 Israeli Prime Minister said the strikes continue in an address to his nation Credit: AFP 7 A building in Tehran hit in an Israeli strike on the Iranian capital early in the morning Credit: AFP 7 It comes after Israeli commandos spearheaded an incredible wave of attacks on Iran's nuclear sites by building a secret drone base deep inside enemy territory. Elite troops smuggled kamikaze drones and precision weapons into Iran in one of the most audacious military operations ever attempted. Their mission - planned for years and backed by intelligence - paved the way for 200 Israeli warjets to blast 100 targets across the rogue Islamist nation. An Israeli official said: 'The operation relied on groundbreaking thinking, bold planning and surgical operation of advanced technologies, special forces and agents operating in the heart of Iran while totally evading the eyes of local intelligence.' Israeli commanders said the overnight raids were the start of up to two weeks of action intended to wipe out Iran's atom threat. The Middle East now stands on the brink of all-out war after Israel unleashed a massive wave of missile strikes on Iran - with Tehran then responding with a wave of drones. Israeli forces on Friday targeted Tehran's nuclear facilities and killed top military & scientific figures in a lightning offensive dubbed Operation Rising Lion. Israel appears to have defied urges for restraint - including from US President Donald Trump - and said they were responding to the imminent danger that Tehran would obtain a nuclear weapon. Iran have vowed vengeance, already begun to blame the US, and launched at least 100 drones towards Israel. The strikes came just days before Iran was due to meet with the US for another round of nuclear talks to try and strike a deal. Iran has since pulled out of scheduled nuclear negotiations with the United States. Tehran cancelled talks that were set for Sunday and suspended all discussions 'until further notice', The Telegraph reported. 7 Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri was killed in the strike Credit: AFP 7 Commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Hossein Salami also died Credit: Getty In a ferocious show of force, around 200 Israeli fighter jets roared across Iranian skies early Friday. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said they used 330 munitions on 100 targets, including uranium enrichment plants and key command centres. Major strikes have taken place on Iran's military bases, the homes of top officials and nuclear sites such as the uranium enrichment base at Natanz . And the heads of Iran's armed forces - Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami and Iranian chief of state Mohammad Bagheri - have both been killed. At least two nuclear scientists - Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad - have also been killed, says Iranian state TV. The Israeli military called the blitz a 'pre-emptive, precise, combined offensive based on high-quality intelligence' and confirmed it had struck nuclear and missile sites across the country. Iran has vowed "severe punishment", calling the strikes a 'cowardly' act of aggression as fears mount of a devastating counterstrike. A 'special state of emergency' is now in effect in Israel. Air raid sirens blared across the country in the early hours, with residents jolted awake by alerts warning of an imminent missile and drone attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the assault vital to "roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival", vowing the campaign would last 'as many days as it takes to remove the threat.' He accused Tehran of advancing toward a nuclear weapon, claiming Iran had enriched enough uranium for 'nine atom bombs.' Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of targeting residential areas, saying: 'In the enemy's attacks, a number of commanders and scientists were martyred. 'Their successors and colleagues will immediately continue their duties.' Stay up to date with the latest on Israel vs Iran with The Sun's live blog

Hapless French cops get worse at preventing small boats from crossing Channel as they make mockery of £480m deal with UK
Hapless French cops get worse at preventing small boats from crossing Channel as they make mockery of £480m deal with UK

Scottish Sun

time3 days ago

  • Scottish Sun

Hapless French cops get worse at preventing small boats from crossing Channel as they make mockery of £480m deal with UK

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HAPLESS French cops are getting even worse at preventing small boats crossing the Channel — despite demanding more money from British taxpayers. Police in Calais are making a mockery of the current £480million deal with the UK by stopping a lower proportion of illegal migrants this year, shock figures show. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 French cops are getting even worse at preventing small boats crossing the Channel Credit: Chris Eades 6 In March, for every migrant caught or made to turn back, 2.36 had to be picked up by the UK Border Force Credit: AFP 6 French officers refused to get their feet wet as an asylum seeker family struggled in water Credit: Chris Eades It comes the day after The Sun told how officers refused to get their feet wet as an asylum seeker family struggled in water trying to reach a dinghy off Gravelines. Analysis of Home Office data, which details how many migrants France claims to have prevented from making the journey, reveals the three-year cooperation agreement has changed nothing. Since May 2024, there have been only two months in which French cops have stopped more migrants than the number arriving in the UK — last August and this January. Our research also found that in March, for every migrant caught or made to turn back, 2.36 were picked up by the UK Border Force. READ MORE ON CHANNEL CROSSINGS DANGEROUS JOURNEY Migrants board dinghies for Channel crossing to UK - as French cops watch During seven days in late April, 1,312 migrants arrived, yet only 303 were stopped — a ratio of more than four to one. Overall, three of the French police's five least effective weeks have come since the start of 2025. Former Tory security minister Sir John Hayes yesterday said: 'These figures reveal what most people suspected — the French are half-hearted about what we're paying for them to do. 'Frankly, they've got enough people and resources to puncture every dinghy before it sets off. They should be doing all they can to stop these boats launching, not just standing around.' Downing Street admitted there was 'more to do' in stopping small boat crossings. But defending the France deal, Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman said: 'We have a stronger relationship with the French government. Ever closer cooperation is already bearing fruit but we do know that we need to go further and faster.' France counts arrests, dinghy captures, and finds of smugglers' gear like boats and life vests as 'preventions'. Scores of migrants board overloaded dinghies to make dangerous Channel crossing to UK - as French cops watch on It is set to change the law to allow 'taxi boat' interceptions at sea — but could demand more cash for a new elite police squad. However, militant police unions are blocking the measure and are instead instructing members to adhere to current guidelines that mean officers must stand back as soon as dinghies are in the water. It costs £41,000 a year for the UK to house and feed each illegal immigrant in one of 210 hotels or other private accommodation. 6 One family nearly drowned as they struggled to board the packed dinghy off Gravelines Credit: Chris Eades 6 France is set to change the law to allow 'taxi boat' interceptions at sea Credit: Chris Eades 6 More than 15,000 people have crossed so far in 2025 Credit: Chris Eades Had France stopped as many people as had arrived this year, 2,905 fewer migrants would have entered Britain between January and the end of May. That would have saved taxpayers at least £119million. Last week, The Sun revealed Britain's annual bill to keep migrants in hotels and look after them totals £4.7billion. That is the equivalent of every penny of tax from 582,000 workers, or all the workers in Manchester. More than 15,000 people have crossed so far in 2025 — up 42 per cent on this time year. The Home Office was approached for comment.

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