AUTHORITIES in Gibraltar have seized nearly half a tonne of cocaine with an estimated street value of €29 million after discovering bales of the Class-A drug hidden in the hull of two ships.
Officers from HM Customs inspected two bulk carriers, M/V Amaris and M/V Chao Tian Men, which had entered Gibraltar waters to take on fuel.
During a routine underwater inspection, local divers identified abnormalities in the sea chest areas.
That led to the discovery of concealed packages hiding approximately 428kg of cocaine.
Chief minister Fabian Picardo said: “I want to congratulate HM Customs Gibraltar and the local diving companies whose vigilance made these seizures possible.
“The professionalism shown by everyone involved is something Gibraltar should be proud of.”
As part of the investigation, all crew members aboard both vessels were interviewed by customs officials.
There is no indication that any of the crew were involved.
There is also no indication that the quantity of drugs were destined for Gibraltar.
The latest discovery comes just weeks after Spain made what is believed to be the largest high-seas cocaine bust ever after seizing nearly 45 tonnes of the drug in a ship off the coast of Morocco.
The 90-metre Comoros-flagged merchant ship Arconian had left Freetown, Sierra Leone on April 22 and was said to be heading to Benghazi, Libya.
But investigators believe the route was a cover for drug trafficking into Europe.
Officials discovered around 1.500 packages of white powder, each weighing between 25 and 30 kilos.
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