Spanish police confiscates tons of cocaine inside banana cargo

Spanish police confiscates tons of cocaine inside banana cargo

Spanish police on Thursday said officials have seized more than six tons of cocaine hidden among bunches of bananas at an industrial estate in Malaga.

According to a police statement, 16 people were arrested in connection to a suspected drugs ring and more than €300,000 in cash, weapons and high-end cars were also confiscated after raiding more than 20 homes and business in relation to the bust.

Police said the suspects were smuggling drugs from Latin America via a company dedicated to importing large quantities of bananas and other fruit from Costa Rica, according to a statement.

The investigation into the drugs ring lasted for almost a year and also involved Portuguese and U.S. officials, it said.

In April, Spanish police made a record seizure of nearly nine tons of cocaine in a shipping container that was also carrying bananas in the southern port of Algeciras.