WILLEMSTAD–The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard found more than 800 kilos of cocaine hidden in a concealed compartment on a Venezuelan vessel on Thursday, August 1.
The boat with 10 persons on board was intercepted by the Coast Guard in the territorial waters around Curaçao on Wednesday, July 31.
It appeared that the boat suddenly started to sink during the interception. The 10 persons of various nationalities were taken to the Coast Guard Support Centre and handed over to the Curaçao Police Force.
The vessel, which was already half underwater, was towed in by the Coast Guard cutter Jaguar and brought to the Coast Guard jetty at the Parera naval base.
The water was pumped out of the vessel the following morning with the assistance of Ministry of Defence divers and the Curaçao Fire Brigade. It was then thoroughly searched by Coast Guard personnel, together with a team of station ship Zr. Ms. Groningen and the Customs department. This resulted in the discovery of more than 800 kilos of cocaine in a well-hidden compartment.
The drugs have been destroyed by order of the Prosecutor’s Office. The persons on board are now considered suspects.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/89762-cocaine-found-on-board-sinking-venezuelan-boat
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