Turkey: Cocaine found on bulk carrier

Divers from the Turkish Coast Guard examined the underwater hull of a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier.

The Turkish authorities confiscated almost 52 kilograms of cocaine wrapped in plastic and attached to the ship's anchor chain while the "Berge Torre" (176,000 tonnes, 292 metres long) was anchored in the bay of Iskenderun, near the Syrian border.

A spokesman for the Turkish Ministry of the Interior said that the captain of the ship and some of his crew members had been questioned as part of the investigation, but that it was unclear whether the crew was involved in the smuggling operation. However, he issued a clear warning that drug traffickers and couriers would not be tolerated and that comprehensive checks would be carried out in all Turkish harbours.

According to AIS data, the "Berge Torre" came from Puerto Bolívar, Colombia. However, she is on her way again.

Source: gCaptain