Authorities at the Port of Rijeka in Croatia have intercepted 85 kilograms of cocaine concealed in banana containers. The shipment originated from Ecuador and transited through Malta, as announced by police authorities, according to KosovaPress.
Andrej Franulović, head of Rijeka's regional customs, confirmed the use of X-ray technology in identifying the anomaly within the cargo structure, which was intended to carry bananas. The confiscated narcotics, valued at approximately 2.1 million euros, are slated for destruction following analysis.
The discovery prompted involvement from the Rijeka Mobile Unit Service and the Primorsko-Goranska Drug Crime Service for further investigation. The Port of Rijeka, part of a known cocaine smuggling corridor from South America, experiences growing traffic annually, as noted by Croatian authorities.
Smugglers exploit legitimate shipping routes, primarily targeting cocaine smuggling. The ongoing criminal investigation aims to gather all necessary evidence to facilitate the prosecution of those responsible, police stated.
Source: Kosova Press