European authorities on Wednesday seized more than 50,000 pounds worth of billions of euros worth of cocaine, calling it the largest similar bust the continent has ever seen.
CNN reported that authorities in Germany and Belgium made the seizure in an operation that lasted more than a week and led to the arrest of one man from the Netherlands.
German customs investigator Rene Matschke told CNN that authorities in Hamburg opened three cargo containers contained as building kits, which worked out a tip from Dutch colleagues.
Although building kits were found in the containers, they were also packets of cocaine.
According to Matschke, it was “quite disgusting to separate the cocaine from the putty because it is so sticky.”
CNN reports that 35,658 pounds of cocaine were found inside the putty containers.
The seizure in Hamburg led the authorities to another cargo of 11 containers en route from Panama to Antwerp. Belgian authorities found another 15,873 pounds of cocaine in the Panamanian shipment.
According to CNN, these attacks are not only the largest amount of drugs intercepted by European authorities, but are possibly one of the largest attacks in the world.
“We have managed to seize a record amount of cocaine. With this fight against organized drug crime – also thanks to the exemplary cooperation with European authorities in partners – German Customs has once again provided impressive proof. Our strategy to use strengthening on a large scale is work, ”said Rolf Bösinger, German secretary of state at the Federal Ministry of Finance.