90 kilos of cocaine found in two containers at Freeport

In the early hours of Boxing Day, customs officials from the Container Monitoring Unit, following a risk analysis, selected several containers for scanning and, in the afternoon, the department’s Scanning Team spotted packets hidden in the reefer refrigerant compressor unit of the first container, using the Nuctech scanner, the department said. A total of 35 packets containing cocaine weighing a total of 42 kilos were elevated from the reefer with a street value of €4.72 million.

As the officials concluded the searches on the first container, the Scanning Team flagged another reefer container which was found to be carrying narcotics too. A total of 40 packets were elevated from the second container, weighing 48 kilos, with a street value of €5 million.

Both containers, transitting through the Malta Freeport from Ecuador en route to Thessaloniki, Greece, were carrying shipments of bananas.

Both cases were handed over to the Police Anti Drug Squad, which is conducting the investigations led by Police Inspector Justyne Grech. Duty Magistrate Gabriella Vella is leading the inquiry assisted by a team of experts from the Police Forensic Unit.

“This is a remarkable year for the customs department in terms of narcotics busts, with the last quarter of the year being the busiest and most successful ever. The Nuctech scanner has proven critical to the customs department’s fight against all sort of illegality, especially trafficking of narcotics,” the department said.

On 21 November, officials found 40 kilos of cocaine worth €4.5 million. Another bust of 48 kilos of cocaine with a street value of €5 million was made on 21 December.