Russian police seize 120kg of cocaine in banana boxesAugust 7, 2013 - 18:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Some 120kg of cocaine (265 pounds) was hidden in boxes of bananas that arrived in Russia’s westernmost port of Kaliningrad, the Federal Customs Service (FTS) said Wednesday, Aug 7, according to RIA Novosti. This is the third massive stash of the drug to be intercepted in less than two weeks in boxes of the tropical fruit shipped from Ecuador. The latest haul of cocaine – packaged in 110 bags – was discovered on the Nedlloyd Julliana ship that arrived at the port from Ecuador on Saturday, the FTS said in a statement. Last Wednesday, almost 140 kg (310 pounds) of cocaine was found aboard an Ecuadorian ship that had docked in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city, the FTS said. On July 26, Moscow police said that they had found 120 kg of cocaine in a banana shipment from Ecuador. Each of the boxes in which cocaine was hidden also contained a prayer sheet addressed to the prophet Jonah to protect the cargo, they said. In Russia, cocaine remains an expensive illegal drug that costs about $150 per gram, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |