Colombian drug traffickers have been caught transporting cocaine in soda bottles, reported Colombian media.
The creative transiting technique was uncovered in the western department of Nariño when police raided a guerrilla camp where they found chemicals used for processing cocaine and a suspicious number of soda bottles. The bottles themselves did not appear unusual to the naked eye.
A total of 14kg of cocaine with an estimated local street value of $17,000, was discovered encased in plastic behind the labels.
Authorities are reportedly attributing the haul, which also included hallucinogens, to the ELN who actively deal drugs in Cali, Pasto and Popoyan to finance their guerrilla activity. The bottled cocaine was reportedly intended for the domestic market along the Pacific coast.
The “narco-soda” is the latest in creative steps taken by drugs organizations to evade authorities. Last month police in Antioquia uncovered 5,000 lbs of marijuana in a truck carrying oranges, while in October 2011 Colombian authorities seized three submarines allegedly used for trafficking drugs to the United States.
Last week Colombia was confirmed as the world’s largest producer of coca, having traditionally been in the shadow of Bolivia and Peru.