Peruvian authorities on Saturday (December 6) displayed more than 3.4 tonnes of high-purity cocaine that they had seized during a major operation, in Callao.

"For this operation (Algarrobos), we received support from the U.S. DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), which always assists us in these interventions. These seizures are linked to criminal organizations, such as Mexican cartels or Albanian groups in Europe, who send representatives to Peru to arrange drug shipments to consumer countries in Europe,” said Peruvian National Police General Nilton Santos.

Santos also said that the drugs had a purity level of 98 percent.

Peru's President José Jerí visited the police aviation headquarters in Callao to inspect the seized drugs, praising the police’s efforts. He stated that the operation was part of a broader strategy to combat drug trafficking and related crimes, ensuring public safety.

The cocaine was reportedly hidden in shipments of organic bananas bound for Belgium. The suspect, Frank Cristopher Cotos Gallo, was detained in Piura, where the drugs were intercepted, according to the police statement.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CALLAO, PERU (DECEMBER 6, 2025) (PERUVIAN POLICE HANDOUT – Access all)

1. MULTIPLE PACKAGES OF DRUGS ON DISPLAY

2. VARIOUS OF ARMED FORCES OFFICERS UNLOADING SEIZED DRUGS FROM AIRPLANE

3. PACKAGES OF SEIZED DRUGS INSIDE AIRPLANE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PERUVIAN NATIONAL POLICE GENERAL NILTON SANTOS, SAYING:

"Almost three and a half tonnes of high-purity cocaine hydrochloride, with a purity level of 98%. This is typically produced in the VRAEM region (REFERRING TO: Valle del Río Apurímac, Ene y Mantaro), because European and American markets demand such high concentrations of the alkaloid."

5. SEIZED PACKAGES OF DRUGS ON DISPLAY

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PERUVIAN NATIONAL POLICE GENERAL NILTON SANTOS, SAYING:

"For this operation, we received support from the U.S. DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), which always assists us in these interventions. These seizures are linked to criminal organizations, such as Mexican cartels or Albanian groups in Europe, who send representatives to Peru to arrange drug shipments to consumer countries in Europe."

CALLAO, PERU (DECEMBER 6, 2025) (PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT HANDOUT – Access all)

7. PERUVIAN PRESIDENT JOSE JERI POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS WITH OFFICIALS AND SEIZED DRUGS

PAITA, PIURA, PERU (DECEMBER 3, 2025) (PERUVIAN POLICE HANDOUT – Access all)

8. POLICE OFFICER BREAKING OPEN PACKAGE OF SEIZED DRUGS

9. VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICER CONDUCTING PURITY TEST ON DRUGS / SHOWING TURQUOISE BLUE COLOR, INDICATING POSITIVE RESULT FOR COCAINE

10. (NIGHT SHOT) VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS UNLOADING SEIZED DRUG PACKAGES FROM VEHICLE

11. MULTIPLE PACKAGES OF SEIZED DRUGS