Russian security service seizes 500 kg of cocaine concealed in tuna cargo

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had seized 500 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a container of tuna at the Port of Saint Petersburg, disrupting what it described as an international drug smuggling operation from Latin America.

The FSB said a Russian national suspected of organising the trafficking network had been detained, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

According to the agency, the cocaine was being transported by sea from Latin America for illegal distribution in Russia.

"The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation has thwarted the illegal activities of a Russian citizen involved in organising an international cocaine trafficking route used to smuggle exceptionally large consignments from Latin America via maritime cargo transport for illegal distribution," the FSB said in a statement.

The agency said officers also seized cryptocurrency wallet storage devices containing approximately $613,000, 13 luxury wristwatches with a combined value exceeding $1.3 million, and five vehicles worth at least 130 million roubles ($1.65 million).

By Aghakazim Guliyev