Italy cocaine cargo at Syrian weapons port
Published: 24 Feb, 2014 CET.
Updated: Mon 24 Feb 2014 11:08 CET
Police on Monday said they have uncovered a €13 million cocaine haul at Italy’s Gioia Tauro port, named last month as the transfer point for Syria’s deadly chemical weapons.
The 65kg of cocaine was found among sacks of sugar from Brazil, police said in a statement.
The find was described by police as “a huge cargo of the purest cocaine” at the Gioia Tauro port, in Italy’s southern Calabria region and the heartland of the ‘Ndrangheta mafia.
It follows the announcement in January that Gioia Tauro would host the transfer of around 60 containers of Syria’s chemical weapons, as part of an international agreement with the war-torn state.
While Gioia Tauro was said to be “particularly appropriate” by Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi, the decision has faced fierce opposition by local residents.
SEE ALSO: Syrian arms arrival 'could boost Italian port'
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The 65kg of cocaine was found among sacks of sugar from Brazil, police said in a statement.
The find was described by police as “a huge cargo of the purest cocaine” at the Gioia Tauro port, in Italy’s southern Calabria region and the heartland of the ‘Ndrangheta mafia.
It follows the announcement in January that Gioia Tauro would host the transfer of around 60 containers of Syria’s chemical weapons, as part of an international agreement with the war-torn state.
While Gioia Tauro was said to be “particularly appropriate” by Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi, the decision has faced fierce opposition by local residents.
SEE ALSO: Syrian arms arrival 'could boost Italian port'
Don't miss a story about Italy - Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
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