Customs Department seizes another 90kg of cocaine, in two seperate cases on Boxing Day, worth 9.72 million euros

- a concealment of 42kg cocaine in one container; and
- another concealment of 48kg cocaine in another container    

Following the 40kg Cocaine seizure on the 21st of November, worth 4.5 million euros as street value, and the 48kg Cocaine seizure on the 21st of December, worth 5 million euros as street value, the Customs Department, today, has made yet another two Cocaine hauls at the Freeport. All containers made use of the same modus operandi, that is; a concealment of several packets  behind the refrigerant panel.
In the early hours of today, Customs officials from the Container Monitoring Unit, following a risk analysis, have selected several containers for scanning and, in the afternoon, the Department's Scanning Team have spotted packets hidden in the reefer refrigerant compressor unit of the first container, using the Nuctech scanner.  A total of 35 packets containing cocaine ,weighing a total of 42kg, were elevated from the reefer with a street value of 4.72 million euros.
As the officials concluded the searches on the first container, the Scanning Team flagged another reefer container which was found to be carrying narcotics too. A total of 40 packets were elevated, from the second container, weighing 48kg, with a street value of 5 million euros.
Both containers, transitting through the Malta Freeport, from Ecuador en route to Thessaloniki, in Greece, were carrying shipments of bananas.
Both cases were handed over to the Police Anti Drug Squad, who are conducting the investigations, led by  Police Inspector Justyne Grech. Duty Magistrate Dr Gabriella Vella is leading the inquiry assisted by a team of experts from the Police Forensics Unit.

This is a remarkable year for Customs, in terms of Narcotics busts, with the last quarter of the year being the busiest, and most successful, ever.  Indeed, the Nuctech scanner has proven very critical to the Customs Department in its fight against all sort of illegality, especially trafficking of narcotics.
.