A DARING £40 million cocaine smuggling operation smashed in Argentina may have been intended to flood the Russian market with the deadly drug for this year’s World Cup, it is alleged.

The huge trafficking scam was busted after the Russian ambassador to Buenos Aires reported his suspicions about 16 pieces of luggage which turned out to be crammed full of 850 lbs of cocaine.

7 The cocaine that has been found in the Rus Credit: Reuters

It was due to be smuggled to Russia in diplomatic baggage.

Envoy Víktor Koronelli, and three members of Russia’s FSB - Federal Security Service - alerted Patricia Bullrich, Argentina’s minister of security, to the suspicious cargo hidden in the embassy compound’s Russian school.

The cocaine with a £40 million black market was immediately replaced with flour by Argentine law enforcement , and the bags fitted with tracking devices.

7 A police officer shows a package of cocaine that with a star sign, that was found in an annex building of the Russian embassy Credit: AP:Associated Press

7 Iván Blizniouk, allegedly one of the ringleaders, had a job in the embassy Credit: East2west News

Then a complicated 16-month investigation by the two countries got underway which had direct involvement from Vladimir Putin’s most senior intelligence official, Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Kremlin’s security council and a former FSB boss.

This culminated in the cargo - the flour rather than the cocaine - being illegally shipped to Moscow late last year as diplomatic baggage.

Today it was claimed the cocaine may have been linked to boosting black market supplies coinciding with this summer’s FIFA World Cup which Russia is hosting.

7 Alexander Chikalo has also been named a key suspect Credit: East2west News

“One version is that the cocaine was due to be distributed in Russia during the World Cup when prices would rise several times compared to usual,” reported Moscow business newspaper Vzglyad, citing law enforcement sources

“A main proof of the crime was recordings of telephone conversations when suspects discussed possible ways of transporting the drugs, including diplomatic post.

“They added special pills to the bags of cocaine so that police dogs would not be able to detect the scent of drugs.”

7 Timur Khudzhamov was also arrested as he was allegedly tasked with picking the drugs up Credit: East2west News

MOST READ IN NEWS GRINCHES Mum reveals HUGE Xmas gift haul for daughter - but some parents brand kid 'spoilt' BABY HORROR Man 'cut open pregnant wife's stomach to check baby's gender as he wanted son' Exclusive GUN GRIEF Gylfi Sigurdsson’s brother-in-law, 11, dies after blasting himself with a shotgun 'I DIDN'T SEE HER' Heartbroken mum who ran over & killed daughter, 1, 'made a mistake' SCARRED FOR LIFE Brit arrested after 'biting off passenger's ear' onboard flight to Spain DEAD & BURIED Archaeologists find 27 mummies sealed inside Egyptian well for 2,500 years

Ms Bullrich was cited as accepting that the trafficking attempt may have been linked to the coming World Cup.

Two Russian-Argentine citizens alleged to be at the heart of the operation - pictured here - were detained in the South American country.

They are Iván Blizniouk, a 35 year-old Buenos Aires City police officer of Russian extraction, and Alexander Chikalo, accused of being in charge of logistics for the operation.

7 A view of the Russian Embassy annex building where around 400 kilos of cocaine have been found Credit: Reuters

Blizniouk, the son of Russian immigrants, worked both for the police and had a security role inside the embassy, it as reported.

He used his contacts to help smuggle the drugs into the Russian diplomatic mission, say law enforcement sources.

He was accompanied by his glamorous wife Natalia Lisichkina when he was detained after an international flight to Buenos Aires from Rome, although there have been no allegations made against her.

Timur Khudzhamov and Vladimir Kalmykov, were arrested when they went to pick up the cargo - of flour.

7 Natalia Lisichkina was detained and is being questioned Credit: East2west News

Biggest drug bust in Colombian history

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.