The Guardia di Finanza, a special force of the Italian Police, has carried out an important operation in the port of Gioia Tauro, in the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria, where nearly three tons of pure cocaine have been seized. According to the authorities, the estimated value of the seized drugs exceeds 800 million euros (about 870 million dollars).
During the investigation, agents discovered two refrigerated boxes more than 12 meters long among the thousands of containers in transit. These boxes contained 78 tons of bananas originating from the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, and were destined for Armenia via the Georgian port of Batumi.
Using advanced scanner technology and the help of specialized canine units, including the anti-drug dog named Joel, a total of 2,734 kg of pure cocaine were found in perfect condition. More than 30 specialized military personnel were involved in transporting and destroying the drugs.
In addition, in the days prior to this operation, Italian authorities had discovered another 600 kg of cocaine hidden in containers coming from South America. This time, the substance was hidden in six containers carrying exotic fruits from Ecuador.
This important seizure of cocaine demonstrates the continued efforts of the Italian authorities to combat drug trafficking and dismantle international networks involved in this illicit activity. Inter-agency collaboration and the use of sophisticated technology have been fundamental to the success of this operation.