Peru police display 'record' cocaine seizure

Peruvian Police officers guard packages containing seized cocaine after their arrival at the police airport in Lima Credit: Reuters\Enrique Castro-Mendivil

Police in Peru have put on display what they have called the largest cocaine haul they have ever seized in the South American nation.

The 7.6 metric tons (8.5 tons) of cocaine were flown to the capital Lima today after being seized in a raid last week.

Officers wearing white jackets and surgical masks unloaded the boxes from a police transport plane at a Lima airport hangar.

Interior Minister Daniel Urresti showed the seizure from a stage, a banner behind him proclaiming "Historic Blow to Illegal Drug Trafficking."

Authorities found the plastic-wrapped cocaine bricks amid chunks of coal near the northern port of Trujillo. Six Peruvians and two Mexicans were arrested.

The cocaine was disguised as coal and destined for Western Europe. Credit: Reuters

Police said the drugs had been destined for western Europe.

Since 2012, Peru has been the world's top producer of cocaine.

More: Police seize record haul of cocaine 'disguised as coal'