Around 1,400 kilograms of drugs (cocaine) were seized this Thursday (27) by the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), the corporation's spokesman revealed today.

The cargo was seized at the Maputo International Airport terminal and was destined for the city of Guarulhos in Brazil.

According to Hilário Lole, the drug seizure follows on from the investigation into the seizure last week (19) of around 90 kilograms of cocaine disguised in deodorant bottles, "and its precursors disguised in skin oil".

"It was in the course of these investigations that SERNIC discovered, at Maputo city level, that this same merchandise had entered national territory through Maputo International Airport from Brazil. After making enquiries at the cargo terminal at Maputo International Airport, other goods were discovered, other cargo that also had a dubious process. It was in this context that SERNIC, in coordination with other forces on the ground, carried out a further inspection of the goods, which [apparently] were sweets. However, after a thorough inspection, it was discovered that they were not simply sweets, but that inside the packages there was a white powder, which preliminary tests determined to be cocaine," he explained.

According to Lole, the "cocaine candies" were disguised in 120 boxes.

Three citizens have been arrested in connection with the cases, including employees of the MHS company that provides services at Maputo International Airport, as well as employees of the Tax Authority who facilitated the entry of the drugs into the country.

"But we also have warrants out for the arrest of six other individuals, employees of the airport and other companies that provide services to the airport, involved in the processing of these goods," he said.

The spokesman also said that efforts were underway to neutralize the individuals who imported the goods and to determine the destination of the drugs.