On December 31, 2021, over three tons of cocaine was uncovered hidden within shipments of goods, which included fresh bananas, and is estimated to be worth roughly $1.13 billion (€1 billion).
Article continues below
As part of an extraordinary activity of strengthening the fixed and flying safeguards within the port area of Gioia Tauro, prepared by the Provincial Command of Reggio Calabria and by the Customs Office of Gioia Tauro, under the coordination of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Palmi, flames yellow and customs officers seized, in two separate activities, a total of 3,128,205 kilos of pure cocaine and arrested the driver of an articulated lorry.
In particular, through a complex and articulated activity of risk analysis and factual checks on over 3,000 containers from the South American continent, the soldiers of the Guardia di Finanza and customs officials, with the aid of sophisticated scanners supplied to ADM, have managed to identify 2,272,515 kg of cocaine, cleverly hidden in 3 containers loaded with bananas, bags of peanuts and pepper.
At the same time, on the front of the controls on the goods leaving the port, following a suspicious maneuver, the driver of an articulated vehicle carrying a container apparently loaded with electric ovens was stopped.
Overall, the drug seized, of very pure quality, could have been cut by drug traffickers up to 4 times before being placed on the market, earning a revenue of around € 1 billion for criminals.
The methods of concealing the drug often prove to be different and always evolving, forcing investigators to refine the operational methodologies from time to time.
The service activity testifies to the constant and effective joint action put in place by the Guardia di Finanza of Reggio Calabria and the Customs Office of Gioia Tauro for the fight against international drug trafficking, with particular regard to the port of Gioia Tauro.
The subsequent inspection made it possible to find 855,690 kg, hidden under heaps of bananas. of cocaine.
As a result of the operations, the drugs and the articulated vehicle used for illicit trafficking were seized; the man, under investigation in the state for the violation of the legislation on drugs (in relation to the transport of 855,690 kg of cocaine) and subject to the necessary confirmations in the continuation of the preliminary investigations, was arrested and taken to the Prison of Palmi , available to the Judicial Authority. ■