Employees at a warehouse that distributes fruit in Norway were left speechless after discovering a package of cocaine in a shipment of bananas—prompting a customs investigation into the discovery, which was later found to be 147 kilograms of cocaine hidden in nine boxes, officials confirmed Monday.
The haul, seized on April 3, is worth around 170 million kroner ($16.4 million) on the street, making it Norway’s largest drug seizure since 2023, when law enforcement officers seized a record 2.3 tons of cocaine.
The drugs were discovered by Norwegian Customs after scanning technology detected an irregularity in a batch of banana boxes. A follow-up investigation, including a search with a sniffing dog, confirmed the presence of cocaine. The shipment had arrived by sea from South America and overland via Sweden.
Authorities believe the shipment was never meant to remain in Norway.
“There is physical evidence that the cocaine was to be collected at the Port of Antwerp,” police said, citing intelligence shared with Europol and Belgian authorities.
Customs officer Tim Gurrik stated the scale of the operation indicates involvement from a major transnational crime group:
“Such a shipment takes massive financial and logistical resources—something that can only be achieved by large criminal syndicates. These groups are increasingly willing to take colossal risks and are always adapting.”
Global Pattern of Cocaine in Banana Shipments
This seizure is part of a growing global trend of cocaine smuggling disguised within banana imports. Recent examples include:
- Dominican Republic (Dec 2024): Nearly 9.5 tons of cocaine found at the main seaport.
- Greece (Aug 2024): Over 200 pounds seized from a fruit cargo ship.
- Ecuador (July 2024): Over 6 tons discovered with help from police dogs; bound for Germany.
- Bulgaria (Mar 2024): 170 kilograms seized from a ship carrying bananas from Ecuador.
- United Kingdom (Feb 2024): Over 12,500 pounds seized — a national record.
- Netherlands (Aug 2023): 17,600 pounds of cocaine found hidden in banana crates at the Port of Rotterdam.
- Italy (May 2023): Police dog uncovers 3 tons of cocaine at the Port of Gioia Tauro.
As cocaine smuggling methods grow more advanced, international authorities are increasingly working together to intercept and dismantle drug trafficking operations—many of which are now using the global fruit trade as cover.
