Norwegian authorities seized 147 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a shipment of bananas at a Bama facility in early April 2025, marking the largest cocaine bust in the country in two years. The discovery underscores the increasing challenges authorities face in combating international drug smuggling operations.
The seizure, with an estimated street value exceeding 170 million kroner, was made after Bama employees flagged irregularities with several pallets of bananas. Customs officials then used imaging technology and canine units to identify the concealed drugs, according to a press release. Nine boxes within the shipment were found to contain the cocaine.
“We estimate this seizure represents up to 600,000 user doses,” said Tim Gurrik, director of the Norwegian Customs Service. He added that the bust likely represents “just the tip of the iceberg” in terms of ongoing smuggling efforts.
The cocaine was smuggled by sea from South America and transported overland via Sweden, officials said. Gurrik emphasized that the Norwegian Customs Service maintains a high focus on combating organized crime, noting that criminal networks involved in smuggling are “risk-willing and adaptable.”
Former Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl echoed Gurrik’s assessment, stating that the threat of cocaine smuggling to Norway is considered high. Dagbladet reported on the details of the seizure.
This incident comes as police warn that Norwegian ports could become transit points for cocaine, according to NRK. The increasing activity highlights the growing concerns about criminal networks operating within the region.
