German investigators have confiscated 35.5 tonnes of cocaine in what authorities say is the most important bust of the category A drug Europe has ever seen.
Prosecutors within the western metropolis of Duesseldorf mentioned they confiscated the cocaine, which they valued at €2.6bn (£2.19bn), final yr after receiving a tip from Colombian authorities.
A complete of 25 tonnes of cocaine was discovered within the port of the northern metropolis of Hamburg as a part of Operation Plexus, one other eight within the Dutch port of Rotterdam and nearly three in Colombia. The drugs had been hidden amongst greens and fruit, prosecutors mentioned.
Seven folks aged between 30 and 54 had been arrested in current weeks and embrace German, Azerbaijani, Bulgarian, Moroccan, Turkish and Ukrainian nationals.
Their identities haven’t been disclosed, according to German privateness legislation.
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They’re accused of importing the massive quantities of cocaine from Latin America to Europe between April and September 2023. The defendants are believed to have had but unknown accomplices allegedly residing in Turkey.
Dr Benjamin Limbach, minister for justice in North Rhine-Westphalia, praised authorities for having “pulled off a coup right here” as he hailed the teamwork which resulted in “the biggest cocaine discover on European soil to nearly go up in flames”.
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He added: “It is a blow to worldwide organised crime. It is a exact punch within the jaw that may harm the drug lords.”
Public prosecutor Julius Sterzel mentioned the suspects allegedly transported the cocaine in containers “and hid it between crates of fruit and different authorized items”.
He mentioned belongings had been additionally seized, together with 5 gold bars value round €23,000 (£19,430), a Porsche 911 Turbo value round €250,000 (£211,221) and varied luxurious objects.