Record Amounts of Canadian Cannabis Seized as Smuggling to Europe Rises
Published
Belgian customs officers seized 21 tonnes of Canadian cannabis in 2025, according to recent reports from CBC. This amount was larger than the illegal cannabis exports from any other country in the world. The figure shows that smuggling of Canadian cannabis to Europe has grown sharply in recent years.
Cannabis is legal in Canada for adults, but it is still illegal to export it to other countries. Many countries in Europe have strict laws about cannabis, and it remains illegal in most of them for recreational use. Because of this, cannabis that leaves Canada and enters Europe without permission can be seized by customs authorities. Belgium, which has a major port in Antwerp, is one of the main places where these shipments are discovered.
The large seizures raise questions about how criminal groups are moving cannabis across the Atlantic Ocean. Authorities in Canada and Europe have been working together to track these shipments and stop them. Experts say that the growth in seizures may reflect both an increase in smuggling and better detection by customs officers.
For Canadian cannabis producers and exporters, the situation is a reminder that legal sales at home do not allow cannabis to be shipped abroad. Anyone who sends cannabis across an international border may face serious legal consequences, including fines and prison sentences. The 2025 seizures show how important it is for both countries to enforce their laws carefully.
Sources: CBC
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