Customs officers have found around 500 kilograms of cocaine on board a bulker that arrived in the Port of Hamburg.
The large-scale operation, which lasted several days, ended with an arrest and confiscation of illicit drugs during. One of the vessel’s crew members was also arrested.
According to Germany’s Central Customs Authority, the ship, flying the flag of Montenegro, has been identified as the 35,000 dwt Handysize bulker Budva. Built in China in 2014, Budva is owned by Montenegrin shipping company Barska Plovidba, VesselsValue’s data shows.j.
Based on a tip-off received from foreign authorities, investigators targeted the bulk carrier. The ship was sailing from Brazil via England to Hamburg.
Upon entering Dutch waters, the 180-meter-long cargo ship was escorted by the Dutch police and later handed over to German maritime authorities.
Once it reached the Port of Hamburg, police and customs immediately began a search, which resulted in the discovery of cocaine in Budva’s cargo area.—World Maritime News
