The seizure was made in connection with an investigation into a customs officer working at the Port of Antwerp, who was suspected of being involved in organised drugs smuggling. Among the bananas in the container, customs found 6,985 packets of cocaine. The container was allowed to continue by lorry, minus most of the cocaine, to Rotterdam, where five men were arrested, including the driver of the lorry.

The street value of the haul was estimated at half a billion euros. There was also a windfall from the operation: The bananas in the shipment were also seized and sent to the Rotterdam Zoo. The suspect customs officer and two alleged accomplices were ordered to remain in custody for another month by a court in Antwerp.