Russia has announced the seizure of 820 kilograms (1,800 pounds) of cocaine — its largest drug bust from Latin America so far this year — in a high-stakes operation involving the country’s customs service and the FSB security agency.

The cocaine, with an estimated street value of over 12 billion rubles (approximately Ksh.19 billion), was discovered hidden beneath a shipment of bananas. Authorities said the packages were concealed in a “hidden cavity” and camouflaged using briquettes labeled with a French luxury fashion brand to avoid detection.

According to Russian state media outlet Izvestia, cocaine smuggling into the country has surged over the past two years. Experts suggest that traffickers are increasingly viewing Russia as a viable transit hub, particularly as traditional smuggling routes through Ukraine’s port of Odesa have been disrupted by ongoing military conflict.

The operation was triggered by intelligence shared by foreign counterparts, who warned of a South American criminal group’s plan to establish a cocaine smuggling channel into Russia.

A criminal investigation is now underway, with suspects facing potential life sentences under Russia’s strict anti-narcotics laws. The country maintains a zero-tolerance stance on drug use and trafficking, imposing severe penalties even for small quantities — and applying them equally to foreigners.

This latest seizure underscores the evolving dynamics of global narcotics trafficking and Russia’s intensified efforts to clamp down on international drug smuggling networks.