Italian financial police say the drugs were hidden in a specially modified compartment beneath the car’s center console and could have yielded up to 25,000 individual doses.
A 36-year-old Serbian national has been arrested in Italy after authorities allegedly discovered approximately 22 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a car with German license plates. The drugs have an estimated street value of €1.8 million, according to Italian news agency ITALPRESS.
The arrest took place near the Catania–San Gregorio toll plaza in Sicily, as the vehicle was traveling toward Catania.
Officers from Italy’s financial police stopped the car during a traffic inspection. According to reports, the driver was unable to explain the reason for his stay in Italy and appeared visibly nervous when officers requested assistance from Nanda, a German shepherd trained to detect narcotics.
After the dog reacted positively to the vehicle, officers carried out a more detailed search.
They reportedly discovered 20 packages containing a substance that tested positive for cocaine in a rapid test, with a combined weight of approximately 22 kilograms.
Cocaine Hidden in a Specially Modified Compartment
Investigators said the drugs were concealed in a hidden compartment beneath the center console, between the dashboard and the gear shift.
Access to the compartment required a special unlocking mechanism, making the concealed cargo difficult to detect during a routine vehicle inspection.
Financial police seized both the cocaine and the vehicle. The 36-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of possessing and transporting narcotics.
Drugs Could Have Produced Up to 25,000 Doses
According to estimates cited by Italian authorities, the seized cocaine could have been divided into approximately 20,000 to 25,000 individual doses.
Investigators estimated that selling the drugs on the local illegal market could have generated around €1.8 million in revenue.
The case highlights the use of sophisticated vehicle modifications to conceal narcotics during cross-border transport. The allegations against the suspect remain subject to the Italian judicial process.
