Tunisian coastguard seize huge cocaine haul

Two unidentified fugitives remain at large after tossing the 31kg haul of pure cocaine - worth $6 million - into the Mediterranean sea before fleeing.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

14 March, 2017

The 31kg shipment was tossed into the Mediterranean sea by its two smugglers [AFP]

A huge haul of 31 kilos of pure cocaine - with a street value of $6 million - was seized off Tunisia's Mediterranean coast, the country's coastguard announced Monday.

The drugs bust came after "suspicious movements" were spotted on a boat off the Cape Bon peninsula in southern Italy, La Goulette coastguard head Mohamed Walid Ben Ali told AFP.

Two men fled the boat after hurling a "large red sack" into the sea.

The sack was later recovered by the coastguard, who discovered 30 blocks of cocaine inside it.

According to Lietenant Colonel Ben Ali, this is the "first time" Tunisian authorities have seized such a large haul of the drug.

Italian authorities have been alerted about the two fugitives, he added.