On Monday, customs officials reported discovering €13 million worth of cannabis resin concealed within industrial ovens inside a container at the Malta Freeport Terminal.
The container, originating from Morocco and destined for Tripoli, Libya, was flagged for inspection following a risk assessment.
Initial scans of six induction ovens within the container revealed significant anomalies. Subsequent scans confirmed the presence of irregular material hidden inside the ovens.
According to a customs statement, extracting the drugs was a complex process that took over two days and involved customs canine teams, the police narcotics squad, and members of the Civil Protection Department.
Upon dismantling the panels, officials found 4,300 kilos of cannabis resin embedded in the ovens’ inner compartments. Customs described this as a “remarkable find” not only due to the substantial quantity, which is significant even on an international level, but also because of the sophisticated methods used to conceal the drugs.
In a separate incident last week, customs intercepted 50 kilos of cocaine in a container arriving from Ecuador, destined for Slovenia. Duty magistrates have been informed of both cases, and inquiries have been appointed.
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Photos: Customs via Times of Malta