A large quantity of cocaine has been discovered in shipments of bananas at several Coop supermarket locations in Denmark. The National Unit for Special Crime (NSK) announced the findings, which occurred on Monday and Tuesday, in a press release on Wednesday.

The affected stores are located within the North Zealand and Mid- and West Zealand police districts. NSK is assisting these districts in their investigation of the shipment and the involved stores, in collaboration with Coop. Police have seized a large quantity of cocaine related to the discoveries.

While NSK has not disclosed the exact amount of cocaine seized, regional media reports indicate that Kvickly in Kalundborg was among the stores involved, with a significant police presence observed on Monday. Coop A/S has declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing police investigation.

On Tuesday, an employee of the supermarket chain was arrested in Odsherred. During a court hearing in Holbæk on Wednesday, it was revealed that police found one kilo of cocaine in the employee’s car trunk. Authorities have not confirmed whether this kilo is connected to the larger quantity found in the banana shipments.

Smuggling cocaine within banana shipments is a known method. In December 2023, Norwegian authorities discovered 145 kilos of cocaine hidden in banana boxes shipped from Ecuador to Europe and then to Oslo via Germany. Similar instances of cocaine smuggling through bananas have occurred previously in Denmark.

NSK also highlights two separate criminal cases involving the dumping of cocaine from cargo ships in Danish waters. The cases, currently with the courts in Svendborg and Holbæk, involve a total of 1636 kilos of cocaine allegedly dropped into the sea from reefer ships en route from South America to Russia in the spring and summer of the previous year.