May 16, 2023
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A shipment comprising bananas in Portugal turned out to be worth over €100 million of cocaine.
Authorities declared today they were able to seize 4.2 tons of the Class-A drug, which came concealed in six pallets of fruits from Colombia.
It is the greatest cocaine seizure of 2023 and one of the largest in recent years, mentioned Vitor Ananias, the criminal investigation coordinator associated with the Judiciary Police.
The cargo reportedly entered the nation on a cargo vessel, flying the flag of Italy through the port of Setubal, south of Lisbon.
Per the police, the cocaine was of a “high degree of purity” and destined for many European nations.
As one of the major trafficking channels, Portugal is trying to fight back against the rising wave of cocaine.
Police made many significant busts in 2022, altogether intercepting over 14 tons of cocaine, with an estimated street value of approximately €700 million.
References: Metro UK, Alarabiya News
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