The Russian Federal Customs Service, in collaboration with the FSB, intercepted 820 kilograms of cocaine hidden under bananas, reportedly seizing the largest consignment from Latin America in 2023. The confiscated narcotics, valued at over 12 billion rubles (approximately US$133 million), were found beneath the fruit, packed in briquettes marked with a distinctive French luxury fashion label. This operation followed a tip-off from "foreign colleagues" about efforts by a South American syndicate to develop a new smuggling corridor into Russia.
© Russian Customs
A criminal investigation into large-scale narcotics trafficking has been initiated. Under Russian law, such charges carry the possibility of a life sentence. Russia maintains strict drug control policies, with severe penalties for drug-related offenses.
Source: Moscow Times
