Caption: Packages of suspected drugs at the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) after a seizure of 9.5 tonnes of suspected cocaine in Santo Domingo on Friday. Photo: AFP
AUTHORITIES in the Dominican Republic on Friday announced a record haul of 9.5 tons of cocaine found in a shipment of bananas destined for Belgium.
The drugs were discovered in 320 bags inside two containers in Caucedo port on the outskirts of the capital Santo Domingo, the head of communications for the National Drug Control Directorate, Carlos Devers, told reporters.
Devers said the haul was the biggest ever in the Caribbean.
At least 10 people linked to the port are under investigation.
Dominican authorities are also investigating the origin of the containers in which the drugs were found.
The bananas came from Guatemala.
The Dominican Republic is a transit country for the trafficking of drugs from South America into North America and Europe. (AFP)