BEIRUT: Customs officials at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut thwarted an attempt Wednesday to export over 4 kilograms of cocaine through express mail to Australia, security sources told The Daily Star.

Customs officials at the airport became suspicious of a particular parcel, intended to be sent to Australia, after discovering that it contained metal parts.

The officials worked on opening the parcel for three hours only to discover that it contained 4.38 kilograms of cocaine which was stashed inside the metal parts.

According to the Directorate of Customs, this is one of the most important operations carried out by custom officials who were able to detect the drugs by analyzing information found on the parcel’s invoice.

The judiciary ordered that the confiscated drugs be handed over to the Drug Control Office and investigations have been opened to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.