ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Authorities seize cocaine hidden in pineapples

LISBON, Portugal

Spanish and Portuguese police say a joint operation resulted in the seizure of 1,642 pounds of cocaine, much of it allegedly concealed inside pineapples shipped from Latin America.

The Iberian police forces announced the big drug bust last Wednesday. They said it unfolded over several months, led to nine arrests and broke up an international smuggling ring led by Colombians.

In November, Spanish police discovered almost 880 pounds of cocaine in Madrid and Barcelona. They say that led to an import company shipping fruit from Panama to Portugal and to a search of ships at the port of Lisbon.

The searches uncovered wax-covered cylinders hidden inside pineapples and containing more than 660 pounds of cocaine in all. Also seized was $489,000 in cash.

No longer governor, Christie gets regular airport screening

TRENTON, N.J.

Chris Christie is learning life as an airline passenger is different when you’re no longer governor.

When Christie and his New Jersey State Police security detail arrived at Newark Liberty Airport on Thursday, two days after he left office, they headed to a special access area used by dignitaries for security clearance.

But a law-enforcement official familiar with the encounter tells The Associated Press that an airport police officer and a Transportation Security Administration officer directed them to the regular screening line for all passengers.

The official says Christie complied and did not attempt to use the special entrance.

The Republican ex-governor couldn’t be immediately reached to comment.

Police face the unexpected: crocodile in basement

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia

Russian police had an unexpected encounter while searching a house in St. Petersburg — a crocodile in the basement.

The Fontanka.ru news portal said the incident happened Thursday while detectives were looking for undeclared weapons in the house of a man involved in staging reconstructions of historic military battles with period uniforms and antique weaponry.

When they went down, they saw a crocodile resting in a small pool of water dug in the concrete basement. The owner of the house explained that he got the crocodile years ago.

City prosecutors said Friday they were checking whether the man was complying with local laws.

Associated Press