According to information released by the Turkish authorities, the seizure is part of an ongoing effort to stop the influx of illicit drugs to the region. The unidentified vessel arriving from Brazil was allowed to dock in the port where the customs officials started their investigation.

The ship and its containers were selected for a search on the basis of a risk assessment. Drug sniffing dogs were deployed and narcotics were detected in ferrochrome alloy tubes. A total of 500 shipments of cocaine have been detected with an approximate value of $29 million. The investigation into the smuggling activity is pending.

Turkish officials have confirmed that this is the second big drug bust of this nature in the same city. The authorities confiscated 800 kilograms of cocaine on a container ship last year. Cocaine was discovered concealed within packets of ferrosilicon, an alloy used to deoxidize steel, in the electrical and chemical industries.

Last year, Turkey announced that its prohibition efforts confiscated 1,5 tons of cocaine, as well as significant amounts of heroin, cannabis and methamphetamine. Earlier this year, Turkey started providing incentives for tips that contributed to the confiscation of significant quantities of illegal drugs.

Maritime Business World