Peruvian authorities made a significant drug seizure at the port of Paita, uncovering 58 packages of cocaine, each weighing one kilogram.
This discovery particularly unusual was the presence of Nazi flags on the exterior of the packages, along with the name “Hitler” imprinted in low relief
The drugs were concealed within a shipping container loaded with asparagus on the vessel SC Anisha R, which had docked at an Ecuadorian port before reaching Peru’s northern Pacific coast. The Peruvian police, specifically the anti-drug directorate, revealed videos and photographs to the Associated Press, demonstrating that the narcotics had been hidden within the ventilation system of the shipping container. Further investigations are underway, with over 80 containers on the vessel yet to be thoroughly searched.
The discovery of cocaine packaged with Nazi symbols is unprecedented in Peru, although authorities have previously encountered drugs concealed in brick-shaped parcels featuring various peculiar designs. Peru is estimated to produce approximately 100 tons of drugs annually, with a significant portion being transported to Europe via sea routes. Smaller planes are also used to transport cocaine to Bolivia before it is ultimately shipped to Atlantic ports. It remains undisclosed whether any arrests have been made in connection with this particular seizure.
In 2022, Peruvian authorities seized a staggering 22 tons of cocaine
The country is recognized as the second-largest cultivator of coca leaf in the world, according to the United Nations, and the second-largest producer of cocaine, as reported by the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
The use of distinct packaging for trafficked drugs is not uncommon. In recent incidents, packages of cocaine worth over $100,000 were discovered on Florida beaches, some of which were wrapped in packaging resembling the Chanel logo. Similarly, Italian police found a substantial cache of drugs in packaging adorned with images of notorious Mafia leaders, including the boss of “Cosa Nostra” who was apprehended after evading capture for three decades. Another noteworthy event took place in March when a “narco sub” intercepted off the coast of Colombia contained nearly 1,000 packages of cocaine, some of which were labeled “ROCKY” and “LMM.”