QUITO, ECUADOR - A drug bust was recently made in Ecuador with fresh bananas at the center of the criminals’ plan. Ecuadorian authorities have discovered and seized a total of 3.5 tons (7,716.18 lbs) of cocaine hidden in a banana container headed for Belgium.

The package was seized at the seaport of Guayaquil in a police operation, according to English News. The drugs were hidden amongst 88 suitcases disguised within the banana container. The legal representative of the company exporting banana containers was detained.

So far, in 2022, police have seized 144 tons of drugs in Ecuador, though the source did not state how many of those attempts utilized shipments of fresh produce.

As always, AndNowUKnow applauds the efforts of authorities who seek to thwart these criminal attempts and, in turn, protect the nature of fresh produce along the way.

For the latest news in the fresh industry, leave a tab open to ANUK.