Italian authorities seized a significant shipment of cocaine at a major port, uncovering approximately 1,700 pounds of the illicit substance hidden among pallets of bananas.
The drugs were cleverly concealed inside a refrigerated shipping container that arrived at the port of Vado Ligure from one of Ecuador's main ports.
A field test conducted during the inspection confirmed the substance was extremely pure cocaine, officials said, adding that the bust was one of the largest anti-drug operations at the port in recent years.
The seized shipment could have generated an estimated 250 million euros, or nearly $290 million, if it had reached the street market, authorities said, highlighting the significant impact of this operation on the fight against international drug trafficking.
The seizure followed an extensive analysis of commercial shipping routes linking South America with Vado Ligure, which has become an attractive target for international drug traffickers due to its importance as a gateway for goods entering Europe.
Guardia di Finanza officials emphasized that the operation is part of a targeted effort to combat the international trafficking of narcotics and protect vulnerable segments of the population.
The discovery comes weeks after a similar bust in Texas, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found over 1,100 pounds of cocaine hidden in a commercial tractor-trailer carrying cabbage.
A canine inspection and nonintrusive imaging scan alerted officers to the concealed load, leading to the discovery of 477 packages containing 1,173 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of nearly $10.8 million.
