The container carrying 764 kilos of heroin valued at around USD 23 million was spotted by customs officials in the Rotterdam port a week ago, prosecutors said in a statement.
Police followed the container to the small village of Hagestein, around 60 kilometres east of Rotterdam, and swooped on Thursday, arresting two men aged 69 and 33 "as they were unloading the cargo of raisins".
The unnamed 69-year-old appeared on drug smuggling charges in a Rotterdam court today. He was remanded in custody for two weeks, prosecution spokesman Wim de Bruin told AFP.
"This is certainly one of the biggest hauls seized so far," De Bruin said.
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