Customs agents in Rotterdam have intercepted nearly 500kg of cocaine that was hidden in a shipping container full of mangoes.

Inspectors found 14 bundles containing a total of 463 1kg packages when they opened up the container, which travelled from from Peru via Panama.

The consignment of mangoes was being shipped to Germany via a distributor based in Moerdijk, but the Dutch prosecution service said there was no indication that either company was involved in smuggling the drugs.

The drugs have been destroyed and the Harc team, a collaboration between customs, the financial investigation service FIOD, the harbour police and the public prosecution service, has taken on the case.