Brazilian Police seize over 300kg of cocaine from bulker loading in Santos

The Brazilian Federal Police reported a successful raid in the ongoing efforts to disrupt drug smuggling operations. In the latest raid carried out on Sunday morning in the Port of Santos, a dozen large bundles were retrieved from the sea chest of a Greek bulker, yielding 341 kg of cocaine.

The Federal Police said they were acting on intelligence work and risk monitoring carried out at the Port of Santos. The crew of the bulker Green K-Max 1 reportedly observed a small boat nearby and alerted the police.

The operation involved the Federal Police working with divers from the Brazilian Navy. The Federal Revenue Service and the Santos Port Authority were also involved.

The Green-K Max 1 had arrived at the port from India and was reported to be loading and preparing to depart for Poland. The 80,856 dwt vessel built in 2019 is registered in Liberia and managed by Greece’s Aegean Eco Carriers.

The divers conducted an underwater search of the 229-meter (751-foot) long vessel and located the bundles hidden in a sea chest. The police called it a complex operation, noting the challenges for the smugglers to place the drugs into the ship. However, they said sea chests were one of the preferred methods for smuggling.

The authorities note that Santos is a frequently used route for the smuggling of drugs. They have increased their monitoring efforts at the port.

Source: Maritime Executive

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