Italy seizes 2 tons of cocaine in packages left in Mediterranean sea

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - Italian authorities seized two tons of cocaine in packages left in the Mediterranean Sea on Monday.

"Approximately 2 tons of narcotic substance of the cocaine type, found in the sea off the eastern coast of Sicily," the country's Finance Guard said in a statement, adding that the operation was part of regular patrols in coastal waters by naval air units.

It said the forces identified 70 packages floating together with a luminous signaling device and held together by nets.

The peculiar packaging method and presence of a luminous device led to suspicions that the packages could contain drugs left in the sea by a cargo ship to be retrieved and transported to the mainland, according to the statement.