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Buenos Aires – Argentine authorities seized 1.6 tons of cocaine hidden in animal feed destined for Dubai and detained 12 folks, police mentioned on Friday.
The seizure, which befell in a single day from Thursday to Friday within the central metropolis of Rosario, highlights the function performed by Argentine ports in trafficking South American medication internationally.
The cocaine “is price roughly $60 million,” mentioned Mariano Giuffra, head of the damaging medication division within the federal police.
The arrests befell at varied websites across the nation.
“They’re all Argentines and a few of them are identified drug traffickers,” added Giuffra.
A number of firearms, sports activities vehicles and a considerable amount of money have been additionally seized.
Rosario, positioned 310 kilometers (190 miles) from Buenos Aires, is Argentina’s third-largest metropolis and the principle port for agricultural exports to the Atlantic.
Additionally it is probably the most violent metropolis in Argentina, with a homicide charge thrice the nationwide common.
The cocaine had been hidden in luggage of corn fodder that was about to be loaded onto a container destined for Dubai.
Police mentioned the cocaine in all probability originated in Colombia, the world’s largest producer of the drug.
Whereas most cocaine is produced by Colombia, Peru and Bolivia — the place rising coca leaf, which is the principle ingredient within the white powder, is authorized — specialists say Argentina has more and more taken on an necessary function in trafficking the drug.
Argentina has a number of main ports, has a big provide of high quality chemical compounds wanted to show coca leaf into cocaine, and gives ample alternatives for cash laundering.
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