2024-12-21 12:41 update: 2024-12-21, 12:46
Drugs. Photo EPA/Santiago Fernandez
Brazilian law enforcement seized 134 kilogrammes of cocaine from a Polish cargo ship docking in the port of Santos, the ship owner's spokesperson has said.
Krzysztof Gogol, the press officer for the Polish Steamship Company (PZM), told PAP on Saturday morning that the package containing drugs was strapped to the bottom of the 'Lebsko' carrier.
According to Gogol, the package was most probably planted at night by members of a drug cartel, as commercial ships were increasingly often used by criminals for drug trafficking.
Gogol explained that after the package was removed, 'Lebsko' and its international crew of 20 had left Santos on its way to the port of Casablanca in Morocco. "There were no suspicions directed at the crew," he said. "The ship is already on the Atlantic."
On Friday, the Brazilian customs and tax agency Receita Federal reported on its website about the failed attempt at drug trafficking involving a cargo ship owned by PZM and flying the flag of Liberia. According to the agency, during an inspection that the Brazilian law enforcement services carried out on December 18, 134 kilogrammes of cocaine were found in a parcel attached to the ship under the waterline, along with one Glock pistol and ammunition cartridges.
Earlier in October, the Brazilian police detained another ship belonging to PZM, the bulk carrier 'Jawor', after its crew member had found almost half a ton of cocaine on board. After an interrogation, no criminal charges were presented to the crew and the ship has since returned to Europe. (PAP)
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