German prosecutors announce country’s biggest ever seizure

Tip-off from Colombian authorities led to haul of 35.5 tonnes worth £2.2bn hidden among fruit and vegatables

How big is Europe’s cocaine problem – and what is the human cost?

German prosecutors have announced the seizure of cocaine worth €2.6bn (£2.2bn) from several container ships and the arrest of seven people in what they called the biggest ever cocaine find in the country.

Prosecutors in the western city of Düsseldorf said on Monday that they confiscated the 35.5 tonnes of cocaine last year after a tipoff from Colombian authorities. They found 25 tonnes of cocaine at the port in the northern city of Hamburg, another 8 tonnes in the Dutch port of Rotterdam and almost 3 tonnes in Colombia. The drugs were hidden among vegetables and fruit.