A cargo of contraband cigarettes was seized by French customs authorities aboard the Tanzanian-flagged cargo vessel KOKOO. The seizure was made by the Noumea Customs Authority with aid from the Australian Border Force (ABF).
The raid on board the KOKOO was conducted on 5th February when it arrived at Noumea in New Caledonia. The search by the agents yielded around 76 tonnes of contraband cigarettes retrieved from 5 containers in the vessel. The contraband has been estimated to have a value of $35 million.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) has stated that the investigation and surveillance of the vessel had been ongoing for a while and that they were monitoring the suspicious route of the vessel near the Australian coast.
Along with the contraband, two speedboats were also found to be stowed aboard the cargo vessel. The speedboats were found to be fitted with four 300-horsepower outboard motors. Customs authorities have clarified that this arrangement is typical for boats used in smuggling operations. Around 10,000 liters of gasoline were also found to be on the cargo vessel, presumably to fuel the speedboats.
Customs agents believe that the vessel KOKOO probably served as a mother ship to smuggle cigarettes, with the final leg of the delivery being made using the speedboats. Authorities have also stated that the sophistication of the operation leads them to believe in the involvement of organized crime.
On 7th February, the captain of the vessel was presented in a criminal court in Noumea and was sentenced to 10 months in prison and a fine of $350,000.
