ADDIS ABABA, Sept.22 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia has seized eight kilograms of cocaine, one of the largest drug busts in recent weeks, an Ethiopian official said on Sunday.
Umi Abajemal, Communications Director, Ethiopia Revenues Ministry (ERM), said the eight kilograms of cocaine were seized on Thursday evening hidden inside the luggage of an individual who had arrived in Addis Ababa Bole International airport from the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, reported state media Ethiopia News Agency.
Abajemal said Ethiopian customs officials seized the cocaine after receiving an information tipoff.
She further said the eight kilograms of cocaine that was seized had a street value of 650,000 U.S. dollars.
On Monday, Ethiopia announced it had seized nearly 11 kilograms of heroine and cocaine drugs that had entered the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, hidden under the luggage of a Nigerian national transiting through the airport.
In recent years, Ethiopia has toughened its illegal drug laws and cracked down on individuals trading in illegal drugs.
In August, Ethiopian authorities disclosed they have nabbed 80 individuals for alleged connection in drug trafficking activities in the Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2018-19, that ended on July 8.
According to the Ethiopian Federal Police Commission's Counter Narcotics Operation team, the 80 individuals, who are said to be nationals of 17 countries, were apprehended for suspected involvement in drug trafficking activities during the 2018 - 2019 fiscal year.
Most of the 80 individuals were caught while allegedly trying to smuggle drugs through the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
The seized drugs were being transported by a variety of foreign nationals including Nigerians, Brazilians, Venezuelans and South Africans. Enditem
