Police in southern Italy said today they seized 2.700 kilograms of high-purity cocaine hidden in two refrigerated containers containing bananas shipped from Ecuador.
The cargo, located in the port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria, is worth more than 800 million euros, Italy's economic crime police said in a statement.
The cargo originated from Guayaquil in Ecuador and was destined for Armenia, via the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi.
The cocaine was found inside the 12-meter containers thanks to special scanners and with the help of a trained dog named Joel, police said.
She added that she has found another 600 kilograms of cocaine in recent days in containers of fruit from Ecuador, which were trafficked through Joya Tauro. These shipments were destined for other parts of Italy, Croatia, Greece and Georgia, he clarified.
Calabria is home to the "Drangheta", which has replaced the Sicilian "Cosa Nostra" as the most powerful Italian mafia organization and plays a central role in drug smuggling.
Source: RES-EAP
