Italian authorities seize $290 million cocaine shipment hidden in bananas
Cocaine seizure at Italy's Vado Ligure port exposed 1,700 pounds hidden Among bananas in a ship container, a major bust worth $290M. See the details.
Italian authorities said they seized about 1,700 pounds of cocaine at the port of Vado Ligure after finding the drugs hidden among pallets of bananas in a refrigerated shipping container.
According to Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, the cocaine was split into 650 packages and was described as being “skillfully concealed” after arriving from one of Ecuador’s main ports. A field test confirmed the substance was highly pure.
Officials said the bust was one of the largest antidrug operations at the port in recent years. They estimated the shipment could have been worth about 250 million euros, or nearly $290 million, on the street.