Move FM Global News

HAMBURG, Germany – Several tons of cocaine have been in seized in Germany in the country’s biggest ever drug bust.

German authorities seized 4.5 metric tones (5 short tones) tons of cocaine with an estimated street value of around €1 billion ($1.1 billion).

The seizure took place at the port in Hamburg, Germany’s largest and Europe’s third busiest port. The container carrying the drugs had originated in Uruguay and was on its way to Antwerp, in Belgium. The paper work indicated the container was transporting soybeans.

When German customs opened the container they found 211 black duffel bags which together contained 4,200 packages of cocaine.

“This enormous amount represents the largest individual seizure of cocaine in Germany,” the Hamburg Customs agency said in a statement released on Friday.

“Assuming that this likely high-purity cocaine can be cut to triple the amount for street sale, the 4.5 tons has a street value of approximately €1 billion.”

The drugs were discovered two weeks ago, Friday’s statement said, and according to German law have since been destroyed.

“This outstanding success proves once again how powerfully German customs fight crime,” Rolf Bosinger, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, said in a statement Friday.The previous highest drug seizure in Germany also took place in Hamburg, in 2017, when 4.2 tons of cocaine worth more than $800 million was seized.