Customs discovers 3 million euros in cocaine attached to the hull of a freighter in the waters of Gibraltar

CUSTOMS has discovered 55 kilos of cocaine hidden in the water intake compartment of a Norwegian freighter passing through Gibraltar.

A local diving company assists Gibraltar Customs officers in extracting the large quantity of illegal drugs with a street value of around €3 million from under the hull of the ship.

They found the two large packages in the ‘sea chest’ of the ‘Star Majesty’ after receiving intelligence about the attempted drug smuggling.

It is the second such find this year in Gibraltar waters.

Customs officers then interviewed all crew members.

But they were given “no reason to believe that the crew was involved in this illicit enterprise or that the drugs were destined for Gibraltar,” HM Customs said in a statement.

The Royal Gibraltar Police have dispatched their crime scene investigation unit to process and examine the seized cocaine.

Customs officials then released the ship to continue its journey and continued their investigation.

Drug traffickers often plant the popular Class A drug on ships using divers in certain key ports.

The Customs chief said he was “extremely pleased” with this latest operation.

“He is extremely proud of all the officers who have worked together from their respective land, sea and research teams to achieve this important result,” the statement said.

“The procedures in place to reduce this type of activity allow the department to pull above its weight in the fight against drug trafficking.”

Customs also thanked the RGP for their forensic support.

It follows the February seizure of more than three times the amount of cocaine from another cargo ship hidden in the same location.

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