Spanish police have discovered a large amount of cocaine in hollowed-out pineapples being shipped into the country from Central America. 

The pineapples had arrived at the southern port of Algeciras from an undisclosed country, where police set about examining the load following intelligence there may be drugs on board.

The concealment has been described as 'sophisticated', and in total approximately 200 kilograms of cocaine was found.

"Agents of the National Police and customs surveillance officials of the Algeciras unit conducted a thorough examination of the load," a Spanish Interior Ministry statement says.

"Among the thousands of fresh pineapples, pieces of fruit were found that had been emptied and refilled with drugs coated with a yellow wax that simulated the color of the flesh of the pineapples.

"Each container contained about 18 kilograms of high-purity cocaine."

Agents learned the target were two import/export companies, one based in Madrid and the other in Barcelona. According to the ministry, both companies are directed by Colombian-born Spanish citizens with no workload and limited commercial activity.

Three arrests have been made.

"The investigation continues to determine the involvement of more people in drug trafficking," the statement adds.

Last May, Spanish police found 2.5 metric tons (MT) worth of cocaine in a pineapple shipment from Costa Rica to Algeciras, in what was described as one of the most significant busts ever connected to a port in the European Union.

Meanwhile, the statement also says how thanks to the information obtained during the Spanish bust, Belgian authorities found 20kg of cocaine in a container bound for the port of Antwerp.

This shipment was intercepted and the drugs were discovered arranged in sheets around the packaging of pineapples.

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