MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has intercepted one ton of cocaine, estimated to be worth over 3.5 billion rubles ($35.7 million) on the black market, bound for Europe.

"A shipment of Latin American cocaine destined for a European Union country via Russia has been seized in the Leningrad Region. Two residents of a Baltic country had hidden 984 packages of cocaine, each weighing 1 kg, inside their car, intending to smuggle them to an EU country," the FSB told TASS.

Hours before the interception, the foreigners attempted to drop 20 kg of cocaine in a forest southwest of St. Petersburg. An Estonian resident and two Russian citizens were detained while removing the drugs from a cache.

Criminal cases have been opened. The five suspects, who may face up to 20 years in prison, are in custody. A search operation is ongoing, the FSB added.