Europe

Romania: 2.3 million tons of cocaine found in banana crates

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Armed policemen stand next to packs of cocaine, at the organized crime prosecutor' office in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, July 1, 2016. Organized crime prosecutors in Romania captured more than 2.3 tons of high-grade cocaine on ships harbored in the Black Sea port of Constanta, with a street value of 625 million euros ($694 million), the biggest ever capture of cocaine in Romania and one of the biggest in Europe in recent years. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) (The Associated Press)

Chief Commissioner Jean Cucu touches packs of cocaine, at the organized crime prosecutor' office in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, July 1, 2016. Organized crime prosecutors in Romania captured more than 2.3 tons of high-grade cocaine on ships harbored in the Black Sea port of Constanta, with a street value of 625 million euros ($694 million), the biggest ever capture of cocaine in Romania and one of the biggest in Europe in recent years. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) (The Associated Press)

An armed policeman stands next to packs of cocaine, at the organized crime prosecutor' office in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, July 1, 2016. Organized crime prosecutors in Romania captured more than 2.3 tons of high-grade cocaine on ships harbored in the Black Sea port of Constanta, with a street value of 625 million euros ($694 million), the biggest ever capture of cocaine in Romania and one of the biggest in Europe in recent years. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) (The Associated Press)

Organized crime prosecutors in Romania have found more than 2.3 million tons of cocaine stashed away in banana crates on ships with a street value of 625 million euros ($694 million).

A statement said the drugs came from Colombia and South America and were headed for Western Europe. They were hidden on ships harbored in the Black Sea port of Constanta.

Prosecutor Daniel Horodniceanu said Friday it was the biggest ever capture of cocaine in Romania.

A Bucharest court ruled that the Moroccan suspected leader of the smuggling ring, as well as four Lithuanians and a Colombian, be arrested for 30 days.

A total of 150 Romanian police officers were helped by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Spanish Civil Guard in the investigation.