In a major crackdown, Austrian police have just made their largest drug seizure ever, netting an impressive 137 kilograms of uncut cocaine. This massive haul was cleverly hidden within a shipment of teak wood coming from Bolivia.
How It All Went Down
The teak arrived in bulk on pallets inside a container at the Hamburg port. During a routine scan, authorities noticed suspicious cavities within the stacks. Upon further inspection, they found that each pallet had six hidden hollows packed with cocaine, disguised to look like wooden planks wrapped in a veneer of teak.
After the drugs were removed, the container was resealed and allowed to continue its journey. Its final destination? Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, for a Vienna-based timber trader with Serbian roots.
The Bust Unfolds
When an Austrian man and his Serbian accomplices arrived in Bratislava to pick up the teak, police were waiting in the wings. They followed the group back to Vienna, where they were arrested. A subsequent search of their premises revealed a lab where an additional 1.2 kilograms of cocaine was discovered, likely sourced from the same shipment.
The seized cocaine boasted a staggering purity level of 85%, and it was set to be cut and sold on the streets for an estimated value of €14 million. In total, nine suspects have been arrested in connection with this case.
Denial and Claims
Interestingly, the timber trader claims to have been completely unaware of the illicit cargo, stating that he ordered the teak for a rooftop terrace project in Vienna. Whether that story holds any weight remains to be seen, but this bust highlights the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in Europe.
