Rome, 21 July 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Italian police have found more than 5.3 tons of cocaine during an operation in the Mediterranean Sea.

The haul has an estimated market value of around €850 million ($946 million) and is reportedly the largest cocaine seizure ever on Italian territory.

Five people were arrested during the large-scale operation off the southwest coast of Sicily, the Guardia di Finanza announced on Thursday. The Guardia di Finanza is a branch of the police which investigates financial crimes and smuggling.

Investigators said they had struck a blow against international drug trafficking during the operation.

Task force reconnaissance flights noticed a fishing boat approaching a merchant vessel, which had already been under observation for several days. The fishing boat set sail from the Calabrian coast, a police statement said.

Early on Wednesday morning, investigators observed numerous packages being brought onto the deck of the merchant vessel and thrown into the water as the fishing boat approached. The crew of the smaller boat then retrieved the packages.

Drug smuggling attempts are regularly discovered in the Mediterranean. In recent months, the Italian financial police have seized several hauls involving tons of drugs.

Photo: MIA archive