Berlin, September 23, 2024 — The Europe Today: Employees at a discount supermarket chain in Germany uncovered 95 kilograms (210 pounds) of cocaine hidden within crates of bananas, German police announced on Monday. The narcotics, with an estimated street value of €7 million ($7.8 million), were found in several cities across the western state of North-Rhine Westphalia.
The discovery was first made by workers at two stores in Mönchengladbach on September 10, with additional bricks of cocaine subsequently uncovered in nearby cities, including Duisburg, Krefeld, Viersen, Heinsberg, and Neuss.
Authorities believe the shipment, which originated in South America, mistakenly ended up in the supermarket’s supply chain after arriving at the Belgian port of Antwerp. According to police, the discount chain was not the intended recipient of the illegal cargo.
Investigations are ongoing to trace the source and intended destination of the cocaine.
