Underwater Drone Helps Customs Seize 120kg Cocaine From Bulk Carrier

HM Customs in Gibraltar intercepted 120 kilograms of cocaine hidden on a bulk carrier earlier this week. The ship, M/V Great Zhou, sails under the Panamanian flag and had arrived in Gibraltar waters after departing from Santos, Brazil.

The vessel had called in to Gibraltar for bunkering.

On the evening of April 30, officers from HM Customs Marine Section carried out a detailed search of the ship using a recently acquired underwater drone. The search continued through the night into the early hours of May 1.

During the inspection, officers found four suspicious packages stored in the ship’s port-side sea chest. These packages were retrieved and taken aboard HMC Sentinel to the Customs Marine Base.

Upon opening them, officials confirmed they contained a total of 120 kilograms of cocaine.

After the discovery, Customs officers interviewed the entire crew and conducted a full search of the vessel. Once the process was complete, the ship was released. However, investigations are still ongoing.

Authorities believe that Gibraltar was not the intended final destination for the drugs. Still, the operation successfully prevented a large quantity of illegal drugs from reaching their destination and disrupted the financial gains of drug traffickers.

Officials stated that the use of the underwater drone, which was purchased in December 2024, played a vital role in the successful detection.

cocaine — Image Credits: HM Govt of Gibraltar

According to reports, John Payas, the Collector of Customs, praised the officers involved for their determination in handling such complex work.

He also acknowledged the support from the Gibraltar Port Authority’s Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), who helped coordinate the vessel’s movements in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, congratulated HM Customs for what he described as another successful outcome in the fight against organised crime.

He said the government had made significant investments in HM Customs to support their mission against drug-related crimes- investments that are now showing clear results not only for Gibraltar but also for the countries where such drugs might be headed.

Reference: HM Government of Gibraltar

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