Portuguese police have just discovered more than four million tons of cocaine in pallets of bananas from Colombia. The drug of a high degree of purity, according to a press release from the judicial police, was intended for several European countries and its value is estimated at more than 100 million euros.
Portuguese authorities announced on Tuesday that they had seized 4.2 tons of cocaine from Colombia hidden in pallets of bananas. It is “the largest cocaine seizure this year and one of the largest in recent years,” said Vitor Ananias, criminal investigation coordinator at the Judicial Police (PJ). The drugs hidden in six pallets filled with bananas entered Portuguese territory on board a cargo ship flying the Italian flag through the port of Setubal, located 30 km south of Lisbon.
A drug intended for several European countries
The drug “of a high degree of purity”, according to a statement from the judicial police was “destined for several European countries and its value is estimated at more than 100 million euros”, said Vitor Ananias. This seizure made it possible to inflict “heavy financial damage to the criminal organizations involved” in this traffic, welcomed the authorities. The operation, the result of international cooperation with Colombia and several European countries, has so far not resulted in any arrests.