VIDEO: Brazil seizes 1.3 tonnes of cocaine being smuggled through private Turkish jet bound for Europe
The seized suitcases with cocaine put on display by police.
The Brazilian authorities announced on Friday that the anti-narcotics police seized 1.3 tonnes of cocaine from a private plane bound for Brussels, according to local media.
It has an estimated street value of €65 million.
A Spaniard involved in the incident has ben detained.
The media pointed out that the plane belonged to a Turkish businessman.
The 1.3 tonnes of cocaine were found in 24 suitcases.
The jet was departing from Pinto Martins – Fortaleza International Airport, southern Brazil.
The jet went to Brazil from Malaga in Spain.
Police had information that the jet would be carrying huge quantity of drugs when it would leave Brazil.
The police said in a statement that when the pilot was asked about these bags, he denied and said that they belonged to one of the passengers.
The elderly man was first hesitant about opening the suitcases, but later under duress opened one of them.
Officers found large packets in the suitcase.
One of the officers slashed a bag with a knife to discover a white powder.
A quick test by the officer confirmed it was cocaine.
Media reported that there were 50 packets in each suitcase.
The police recorded the process of searching the bags and extracting the seized quantities of cocaine from them.
The owner of the chartered plane, ACM Air, confirmed that the aircraft had been booked to fly from Brazil to Brussels.
The seizure is the first for Brussels, crime branch said.
