$290M cocaine haul found ‘skillfully concealed’ in massive banana shipment

Italian authorities seized astir 1,700 pounds of cocaine hidden among pallets of bananas astatine a large port, officials said Tuesday.

The drugs were divided into 650 packages and "skillfully concealed" wrong a refrigerated shipping instrumentality that arrived astatine the larboard of Vado Ligure from 1 of Ecuador’s main ports, according to Italy’s Guardia di Finanza.

A tract trial conducted during the inspection determined the substance was "extremely axenic cocaine," officials said.

BORDER OFFICERS CRACK OPEN CABBAGE SHIPMENT HIDING MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR SECRET AT TEXAS BORDER

The drugs were divided into 650 packages and "skillfully concealed" wrong a refrigerated shipping container. (Italy Border Police / AP)

Authorities said the bust was 1 of the largest anti-drug operations carried retired astatine the larboard successful caller years. 

The shipment could person generated an estimated 250 cardinal euros, oregon astir $290 million, if it had reached the thoroughfare market.

MASSIVE MEXICO-CALIFORNIA BORDER BUSTS UNCOVER EYE-POPPING AMOUNT OF DRUGS: 'REMAIN VIGILANT'

Authorities said the bust was 1 of the largest anti-drug operations carried retired astatine the larboard successful caller years.  (Italy Border Police / AP)

The seizure followed an extended investigation of commercialized shipping routes linking South America with Vado Ligure, an important gateway for goods entering Europe — and an "attractive" people for planetary cause traffickers, according to officials.

"The cognition forms portion of an ongoing and targeted effort to combat the planetary trafficking of narcotics, including efforts to support the astir susceptible segments of the population, who are often exposed to the harmful effects of this benignant of transgression activity," Guardia di Finanza said.

JEANINE PIRRO CALLS OUT 'DIRTBAGS' AFTER 14 CHARGED IN ALLEGED COCAINE RING OPERATING FEET FROM A SCHOOLYARD

The shipment could person generated an estimated 250 cardinal euros, oregon astir $290 million, if it had reached the thoroughfare market. (Italy Border Police / AP)

The seizure comes weeks aft U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered much than 1,100 pounds of cocaine hidden successful a commercialized tractor-trailer carrying cabbage astatine the Pharr Port of Entry successful Texas.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A canine inspection and nonintrusive imaging scan alerted officers to the concealed load, CBP said. A carnal hunt of the trailer uncovered 477 packages containing 1,173 pounds of cocaine with an estimated thoroughfare worth of astir $10.8 million.

Fox News Digital's Leo Briceno contributed to this report.