Cruise ship passengers reportedly arrested after $2.6 million worth of cocaine found hidden in chip bags and ceramic bowls

MSC Cruises

The MSC Opera cruise ship.

• Authorities from Portugal and the United Kingdom seized 18 kg of cocaine from a cruise ship, the UK's National Crime Agency said on March 28. 
• Twelve people between the ages of 20 and 52 were arrested in Madeira, Portugal, on March 24 as part of the operation, USA Today reports.
• The cocaine found on the ship was worth $2.6 million and was hidden in chip bags and ceramic bowls, according to the USA Today report.

Authorities from Portugal and the United Kingdom seized 18 kg of cocaine from a cruise ship, the UK's National Crime Agency said on March 28. 

"We believe this operation has seriously disrupted an organised crime group looking to traffick cocaine into the UK and Europe," the NCA tweeted.

Read more: 8 things cruise-ship workers want to tell passengers but can't

Twelve people between the ages of 20 and 52 were arrested in Madeira, Portugal, on March 24 as part of the operation, USA Today reports. Four of the suspects were reportedly passengers on the MSC Opera cruise ship and six had recently traveled to Portugal from the UK.

The cocaine found on the ship was worth $2.6 million and was hidden in chip bags and ceramic bowls, according to the USA Today report.

MSC Cruises did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

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