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Peru seizes two tonnes of cocaine in asparagus packages

LIMA (Reuters) - Peru found more than two tonnes of cocaine hidden in packages of asparagus destined for Amsterdam, and arrested a Serbian man and four Peruvians suspected of running a smuggling operation from a gourmet food business, authorities said on Thursday. Two SUVs, $75,000 in cash and a Glock pistol were also seized in the raid on the exporter's property on the outskirts of Lima after intelligence work indicated criminal activity, police and the attorney general's office said in a statement. Peru is virtually tied with Colombia as the world's biggest cocaine producer. Drug trafficking from Peruvian ports is believed to have risen since a new law authorizing the military to shoot down drug-smuggling aircraft in the jungle was passed in 2015. (Reporting by Mitra Taj; Editing by Sandra Maler)