Topic
cocaine
Logistics Italian Police Seize $290 Million in Cocaine Hidden in Ecuador Banana Shipment at Port of Vado Ligure
Italian authorities seized nearly 1,700 pounds of cocaine hidden in a refrigerated shipping container carrying bananas at the Port of Vado Ligure. The container originated in Ecuador. The cocaine had an estimated street value of €250 million ($290 million). This bust is among the largest recent cocaine seizures at the port and highlights the use of legitimate refrigerated produce shipments for drug trafficking.
Logistics Failed Containership Cocaine Drop in English Channel Leads to 11 Convictions
Eleven people have been convicted for a failed attempt to retrieve 500 kg of cocaine dropped from an unidentified containership into the English Channel. In a separate incident, Border Force officers seized 240 kg of cocaine hidden in banana crates aboard the reefer ship Atlantic Klipper at Portsmouth Docks.
Logistics Irish Authorities Sell Cocaine Bulker for $1; Vessel Heads to Bulgaria for Grain Trade Refit
Irish authorities sold the cocaine-laden bulker Matthew for $1 after spending €17m on maintenance. The Panama-flagged supramax, seized in Sept 2023, is now under tow to Varna, Bulgaria, where it will be refitted and likely return to commercial service carrying grain in the Black Sea, according to Splash247 and RTÉ.
Logistics CBP Officers Seize $3.7 Million in Suspected Cocaine at Hidalgo Port of Entry
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Hidalgo Port of Entry seized over $3.7 million in suspected cocaine from a commercial tractor-trailer hauling cucumbers. The narcotics were concealed inside the trailer and discovered through a canine alert and imaging system scan. The seizure highlights ongoing enforcement that can affect customs clearance timelines for legitimate shipments.