In a statement released on August 13, 2024, the Police confirmed that officers from the Naples Police Department, in partnership with Customs Agency personnel, discovered 163 bricks of pure cocaine, weighing a total of 188 kilograms and valued at approximately thirty million euros. The shipment was hidden within a container filled with dried plums, which had been offloaded from a ship originating from Chile, via Panama. According to investigators, the drugs were intended for the illegal market in Naples.
The cocaine was found following an inspection of the container's cargo, which had initially appeared to be missing its official seal. The container had already cleared customs and was outside the port premises. The Mobile Squad is continuing its investigation to identify the intended recipients of the illicit cargo and to determine how it was cleared and moved out of the Port of Naples.