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16 kilos cocaine fouind in Zárate
A joint operation by the Argentine Naval Prefecture and the Customs Revenue and Control Agency (ARCA) resulted in the seizure of 16 kilos of cocaine aboard the 'Grande Amburgo', which docked in the port of Zárate on May 4, 2026, on the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway, in the southern Entre Ríos province. The operation was carried out during a routine inspection of the port area, with the participation of specialised personnel from the national maritime authority. During the inspection, the ship's captain reported that, after departing from Montevideo on May 3, a crew member had found a bag containing "bricks" of a suspicious substance in an area designated for loading motorhomes. The situation was documented and secured with photographic and video evidence. Subsequently, officers confirmed that the packages contained 14 bundles of cocaine hydrochloride, weighing a total of 16 kilograms and with an estimated street value exceeding 340 million pesos. The packages bore the inscription “Formula 1-F1.” Furthermore, during the search of the vessel, five more empty burlap sacks of similar characteristics were found in another cargo area. The case was reported to the Federal Court of Campana, Criminal Division No. 3, which ordered the seizure of the drugs, the performance of forensic tests, and the taking of witness statements. No restrictive measures were taken against the crew, comprised of 32 people of various nationalities. Port State Control authorities ordered the preventive detention of the vessel with operational restrictions. The ship was released again on May 11. Report with photos: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/prefectura-y-arca-incautaron-16-kilos-de-cocaina-en-un-barco-en-zarate
Three tons of cocaine found in Hamburg
After the arrival of the “Grande Amburgo” at the O'swald Quay in Hamburg en route from Santos, three tons of cocaine with a value of around 150 million euros, the majority of it having been destined for the German market, were found by the police. The local authorities had received a tip about a drug mafia gang member who was a sailor on the ship. Police found that more than 400 kilograms of cocaine were hidden a the fire truck. The sailor was arrested in the harbour. Crew members had apparently made further cocaine discoveries on the ship. They collected more than 500 kilograms and locked the coke in the workshop to later hand it over to the police. For the removal, the investigators needed a forklift, which was guarded at the quay by heavily armed police officers. A total of three tons of coke were seized by police and customs.
1,5 tons cocaine seized in Vitoria
Around 1,5 tons of cocaine was seized on Nov 5, 2023, by Federal Police and Revenue agents, on the 'Grande Amburgo' in 52 bales in the port of Vitória, as the result of joint investigations with other countries. The PF opened an investigation to investigate the case, and the ship was detained in port. More than 50 employees from federal agencies, including the Federal Police and the Federal Highway Police (PRF), participated in an operation to verify information that the ship would leave the port of Vitória bound for Europe, transporting a large quantity of drugs. The operation also involved 14 sniffer dogs, two PF and PRF vessels, as well as underwater drones to examine the vessel's hull. The Navy provided support in the action. The 52 bales were hidden in two different locations on the ship, and samples of genetic material and fingerprints were found on the bales. The intention was to be thrown overboard when the ship approached its final destination in Europe. The PF suspected that the drug was taken on board with the help of a crew member. Fingerprints and statements from the 28 crew members were collected. No one has been arrested so far, but the crew must remain in Brazil until the investigations have been completed. The objective is to identify everyone involved in the criminal organization of drug trafficking.
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