Police in Italy have seized about 2.5 tonnes of cocaine in two shipments – which add up to the largest drug haul found in the country in 25 years.
On Thursday, police seized 1.9 tonnes of the drug in the north Italian port of Genoa, while 644kg (1,420 pounds) had been found earlier this month in nearby Livorno.
The larger shipment arrived from South America hidden in duffle bags in a container with no declared cargo, and was heading for Barcelona, police said.
Officers intercepted the cocaine, replaced it with salt and sent the ship on to Spain as planned, Colonel Maurizio Cintura of the Italian finance police said.
