The latest bust follows a series of major cocaine seizures in Russia. A record 1,500 kilograms of cocaine was intercepted in a shipment of bananas from Latin America, valued at over $240 million.
Recent data indicates global cocaine use has continued to rise, surpassing all other narcotics. Illegal production reached a record 4,000 tons in 2024, more than quadruple the level a decade earlier.
Consumption has grown from an estimated 17 million users in 2013 to over 25 million in 2024, reflecting a sharp increase in demand worldwide.
