€10 million in South American cocaine found inside containers carrying fruit

76 packets carrying 91 kilogrammes of cocaine worth €10.2 million seized by Customs from two containers en route from South America

A total of 76 packets, weighing 91.2 kg, were elevated during this operation, which account for a street value of a total of €10.26 million
A total of 76 packets, weighing 91.2 kg, were elevated during this operation, which account for a street value of a total of €10.26 million

Routine searches conducted Sunday at the Malta Freeport by the Malta Customs officials has once agian resulted in a sizeable narcotics seizure.

The refridgerated containers were flagged by the Customs Container Monitoring Unit, due to their high risk route. Preliminary scans indicated clearly that two reefer containers were conceiling unknown packets, once again, in the refridgerant compressor compartment.

The containers were subsequently inspected physically and found to contain 38 packets of cocaine, weighing 45.6 kgs, with an approximate street value of €5.13 million, and another 38 packets of cocaine, weighing 45.6 kgs, with an approximate street value of €5.13 million.

A total of 76 packets, weighing 91.2 kg, were elevated during this operation, which account for a street value of a total of €10.26 million.

All two reefer containers were carrying fruit and transited through Malta from South America en-route to an EU member state.

The case is similar to the recent discovery of cocaine worth €32.4 million concealed in four containers transporting fruit.

The case was handed over to the Police Anti Drug Squad, who are conducting the investigations. The duty magistrate is leading the inquiry assisted by a team of experts from the Police Forensics Unit.

Other big cocaine hauls were made by Customs last year.

In February of 2018, 100kg of cocaine were detected in a container at the Freeport and sent under controlled delivery  to Croatia, where a huge criminal gang was arrested. In November, 44kg of pure cocaine was found in a container reefer arriving from Equador. Another €5 million worth of cocaine was found in container headed to Greece in December.

Scanners and sniffers On the frontline against illegal substances