Russian customs officials in St Petersburg have seized 139kg (306lbs) of cocaine hidden in a shipment of Ecuadorian bananas, media agency RIA Novosti reported.

"The drugs were found in a container between boxes of bananas," the country's Federal Customs Service said Thursday.

According to prices listed on black market website Havocscope, the recent seizure would have had an approximate street value of more than US$24 million.

Interestingly, all six boxes contained prayers on white sheets mentioning the prophet Jonah and his journey across the sea.

The finding follows a similar interception last week, when authorities in Moscow discovered 120kg (264lbs) of cocaine hidden in a truck carrying Ecuadorian bananas.

Ecuadorian product accounts for around 95% of the Russian banana market, making it the most imported fruit in the country, according to Ecuador’s Trade Office in Moscow.

While the South American nation's banana supply has been short this year, its promotion office has been aggressively marketing the fruit in Russia.

Related stories: Spain: banana shipment arrives with 100 kilos of cocaine

Cocaine camouflaged as bananas seized by Peruvian officials

Cocaine seized in Canadian tropical fruit shipment

Ecuador sniffs out pineapple cocaine traffickers

Photo: Russian Federal Customs Service

www.freshfruitportal.com