Police find cargo of cocaine hidden in a container of bananas for export to Portugal

According to the Ministry of Security, with this seizure, there have been more than five tons of drugs found in containers that were being exported to Europe. / Drug Control Police courtesy photo.

-Published: Thursday, November 14, 2019-

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A shipment of 300 packages of cocaine turned up hidden in bananas being exported in a container at the Moín dock in the Province of Limón, Drug Control Police said.

According to the police report, during a review of the containers ready to be shipped Wednesday, an police found a load of packages of cocaine inside one container.

The container with the drug was about to be exported with bananas from Costa Rica to Setúbal port in Portugal, police said.

"The shipment was 300 packages of cocaine, each weighing approximately one kilogram of the drug," said the police in its report.

Public Security Minister Michael Soto-Rojas said that the police have "done an arduous job in Moín de Limón, to prevent Costa Rican products going to Europe from going with cocaine shipments inside containers."

According to the Ministry of Security, with this seizure, there have been more than five tons of drugs found in containers that were being exported to Europe.

In a similar case Oct. 29, police found approximately 954 kilos of cocaine in a container that was to be exported to Belgium.

According to the police report, during a routine review at the port of Limón, specifically at the docks of the APM Terminal, officers found several black packages that were inside a container. That container was loaded with banana pulp that was going to be exported to the European country.

"The container is 20 feet long, and inside were 29 bags with 954 packages of approximately one kilogram of cocaine each," said the police in its report.

During this year "the police have detected nine containers contaminated with drugs at the Limón docks," said Soto.

According to data provided by the ministry, during this year 37.2 tons of drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, have been seized throughout the country.

On Oct. 23, police found 250 kilos of cocaine in another cargo of plants being exported to Holland.

According to the police report, during a routine review process, officers, also at APM Terminals, found the drug hidden inside the containers that were already placed inside a ship headed to Europe. The ship was bound for Rotterdam in The Netherlands, said police in its report.

According to Soto, the load of ornamental plants looked as if it were legal. However when the officers made a more detailed review, they found eight packages, which contained the drug, he said. The police did not report any detainees concerning this case.

Judicial agents are investigating the person or company that was sending the shipments to Europe.

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Should the authorities implement more technology in the review of the containers before shipping? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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