288 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of €32.4 million were found in four separate temperature-controlled trailers in Malta’s Freeport during an intensive overnight operation.

The four cocaine-filled containers were carrying fruit and were being transited through Malta from South America en-route to an unspecificed EU member states. They were part of 12 containers that the Container Monitoring Unit flagged due to their “high-risk route”. A scan resulted in the discovery that three of these containers had hidden packets in the refidgerant compressor compartment, with the other having the concealed drugs behind the panelling of an inner compartment.

A total of 240 packets, weighing 288 kilos and valued at over €32.4 million, were seized

Below is the breakdown of each seized container:

1. 37 packets of cocaine, weighing 44.4 kilos, estimated street value of €5 million
2. 54 packets of cocaine, weighing 64.8 kilos, estimated street value of €73. million
3. 69 packets of cocaine, weighing 82.8 kilos, estimated street value of 9.3 million
4. 80 packets of cocaine, weighing 96 kilos, estimated street value of €10.8 million

The Police Anti Drug Squad is conducting further investigations, with the duty magistrated leading the inquiry assisted by a team of experts from the Police Forensics Unit.

Following the major operation and find on a public holiday, the Customs Department issued a statement thanking the hard work and cooperation of the Malta Police Force, the Security Services of the Freeport Corporation and the Logistics Department of the Freeport Terminals Ltd.

David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).