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Cypriot police find largest ever cocaine haul in generators shipped from S. America

Xinhua, August 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Cypriot police uncovered the largest ever haul of cocaine stashed in false compartments of the fuel containers of three generators sent from a South American country, Justice and Public Security Minister Ionas Nicolaou said on Friday.

He said the police recovered a total of 156 kg of high quality cocaine with an estimated street value of 15.6 million euros.

"The drug squad of the police acted on a tip-off from a drug service of another country. They worked several days to unravel the route of the haul and to trace the suspect shipment," he added.

Nicolaou said the generators passed through two other European Union countries before being unloaded in Cyprus.

The generators were kept in a bonded warehouse near the port of Limassol.

The drug squad said they believe the load would be sent to another country.

Local media said the Netherlands was a possible final destination.

The police had to cut through the two-meter-long fuel containers of the generators to uncover the cocaine in about 100 separate plastic packages.

The police arrested the owner of the warehouse and are seeking to ascertain the importer of the generators. Endit