Massive cocaine stash hidden in a container of bananas seized in Holland

In a statement this evening the Public Prosecution Service said the drugs were hidden in a cargo of bananas from South America.

“During a check in the port of Rotterdam, Customs intercepted 1,099 kilos of cocaine today. The street value of the seizure is worth more than €82 million.”

“The narcotics were hidden in a container from Ecuador and loaded with bananas.”

An investigation into the seizure is ongoing by Dutch agencies, it was added.

“The drugs have since been destroyed.”

Spanish police also announced today they had seized 500 kilos of cocaine after a major operation against a criminal gang in Seville and Cádiz in the south of the country.

Ten people were also arrested with cash and 800 kilos of tobacco also seized as a dozen ships and homes were searched.

“The operation began at the beginning of this year, when investigators learned of the existence of a criminal organisation that intended to introduce a large amount of cocaine into the province of Seville, using containers from South America.”

Last week Europol announced a police operation targeting “a European and South American drugs and money-laundering infrastructure of a large -scale trafficking network.”

Last Friday saw 39 people arrested in Belgium, Germany, Spain and The Netherlands with property worth €5.5. million seized including luxury watches and cars.

The operation also involved the co-operation of the authorities in Paraguay and the United Arab Emirates.

“The operation was initiated in February 2021 when law enforcement authorities in the ports of Hamburg and Antwerp seized a total of 34 tons of cocaine in three shipments linked to this criminal network.”

“The traffickers’ command and control centre, and the European High Value Targets behind it, were based in Dubai.”

“From there, they managed the trafficking of cocaine sourced via their own production infrastructure in Bolivia. Logistical and supply lines were also identified in Paraguay.”