It was around 9:20 p.m. on Monday that the Friborg cantonal police were informed by the Nespresso company that employees had discovered an undetermined white substance while unloading bags of freshly delivered coffee beans. The police officers dispatched to the scene had the white powder analyzed, which turned out to be cocaine.
The search of the five maritime containers delivered on the day in question by train made it possible to discover and seize more than 500 kg of this drug, announced Thursday the Friborg cantonal police. The first investigations show that these maritime containers loaded with bags of coffee had left Brazil in the direction of Romont.
A large-scale security perimeter was immediately set up around the factory during the intervention. An important police force was necessary in order to guarantee the report and to take all the useful measures for the investigation in progress.
About twenty employees of the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (OFDF) were mobilized. Using devices, they scanned the various containers and participated in their search, the police said in a statement.
More than 50 million Swiss francs
The cocaine is more than 80% pure and its market value is estimated at more than 50 million Swiss francs. It seems according to the investigators that this drug was intended for the European market. The batches were isolated and the substance did not come into contact with any product used in production.
The public prosecutor of the canton of Friborg has opened an investigation. No additional information can be released until further notice, police said.
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