A total of 633 kilos of cocaine were intercepted over the Easter weekend. The drugs have an estimated wholesale value of around 16 million euros. The narcotics were discovered in two separate shipments of avocados.
One shipment, containing 553 kilos of cocaine, was found during a routine Customs inspection at the port of Rotterdam on the night of Monday, 21 April to Tuesday, 22 April. The cocaine was packed in bags hidden among the avocados. The container had arrived from Peru and was transported to the Netherlands via Panama. It was destined for a company in Ridderkerk. There are no indications that the company was involved in the smuggling.
The second discovery was made on Friday, 18 April, at a company in Barendrecht. In this case, 80 kilos of cocaine were found, not among, but inside the avocados. When one avocado fell to the ground, it was revealed to be made of plastic. Upon opening it, it was found to be filled with cocaine. A total of 400 fake avocados were discovered. This shipment had been in the Netherlands since 1 April and originated from the Dominican Republic. This company also appears to have no involvement in the smuggling.
The drugs have since been destroyed.
Source: Public Prosecutor's Office