Italian authorities seize 340 kg of cocaine hidden in plantain shipment
Italian financial police have seized 340 kilograms of high-purity cocaine concealed inside a shipment of plantains at the Port of Vado Ligure, dealing another significant blow to international drug trafficking networks operating through European ports.
Authorities estimate the seized narcotics would have had a street value of approximately €120 million.
Cocaine concealed in cargo from Colombia
According to the Guardia di Finanza, the cocaine was hidden in 300 packages placed inside a commercial shipment of plantains imported from Colombia.
The discovery was made during inspections at the northwestern Italian port of Vado Ligure, a strategic entry point for maritime cargo entering Europe.
Officials have not yet released details regarding arrests or the criminal organizations potentially linked to the shipment.
Italy remains a key front in anti-drug operations
The seizure underscores the continuing efforts by Italian law enforcement agencies to combat international narcotics trafficking through the country's ports.
Drug trafficking organizations frequently use legitimate commercial cargo—including fruit shipments—to conceal cocaine destined for European markets.
Italian authorities continue to strengthen customs inspections and intelligence cooperation to intercept increasingly sophisticated smuggling operations.
Europe continues to face record cocaine flows
According to the latest data from the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), authorities seized 11 tonnes of cocaine in Italy during 2024.
Across the European Union, law enforcement agencies intercepted 330 tonnes of cocaine during the same period, highlighting the scale of the illicit trade and the growing challenge posed by organized criminal networks.
The latest seizure at Vado Ligure adds to a series of major drug interceptions across Europe as authorities intensify efforts to disrupt cocaine supply routes from Latin America.
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