The vessel; MSC SHREYA B on which cocaine was uncovered during a stay at the Malta Freeport in MARSAXLOKK last week
Ninety-seven kilograms of cocaine was uncovered affixed to the hull of the “MSC SHREYA B,” positioned below the waterline during the vessel’s stay at the Malta Freeport in MARSAXLOKK. It is suspected that this cocaine shipment was destined for Europe.
In a routine inspection by Maltese Police and Customs officials, the cocaine was discovered within packages securely attached to the ship’s hull. The container ship had just arrived from Golon and was en route to GIOIA TAURO, Italy.
Maltese police report that that vessel believed to be the MSC Shreya B arrived at the Malta Freeport in Marsaxlokk on the island on Saturday night, August 5. The 11,000 TEU containership registered in Portugal was arriving from Colon, Panama where it had transited the Panama Canal on July 20 and making a port call in Panama.
The divers hired by the ship’s agents were making a routine inspection of the hull on August 6 when they believed things seemed out of place and then discovered large plastic packages hidden under the ship. They alerted the police which retrieved the packages and reported on inspection they contained the cocaine. The police estimated the street value of the drugs at €11 million.
After the investigation, the MSC vessel was permitted to depart Malta after midnight on August 7 and is continuing to Italy. The police in Malta are saying that they do not believe the drugs were destined for the island but instead that they intercepted a shipment bound for the mainland of Europe.
The divers, contracted by the ship’s agents, stumbled upon the hidden packages and promptly notified the police. The authorities then retrieved these packages, revealing 97 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value of 11 million euros. Maltese law enforcement believes this cocaine shipment was not intended for Malta but rather had mainland Europe as its destination.
The MSC vessel was granted permission to depart Malta on August 7th following a thorough inspection and investigation. It is currently en route to Italy.
