Five people have been arrested in the Netherlands in connection with the discovery of 8,000 kilos of cocaine in Antwerp port, said to be one of the biggest-ever hauls made in Europe.



The drugs, with a street value of some €500m, was found on Monday during checks on a container full of bananas from a ship which sailed from Ecudador.

The shipment was allowed to proceed to an industrial park near Rotterdam. The driver of the lorry, a 46-year-old Belgian, and four Dutch men who were unloading the drugs were arrested.

Biggest haul

The prosecution department says the seizure is the biggest haul of cocaine ever made in the Netherlands.

Other major finds include 4,000 kilos in Vlissingen in 200 and 4,600 kilos in Rotterdam in 2005.

The police investigation is now focusing on the final destination for the drugs and the financing, the public prosecution department said.

The 20,000 kilos of bananas used to disguise the drugs have been given to Blijdorp zoo.