About 108 kilograms of cocaine were found aboard the 2008-built bulk carrier Mount Faber while the vessel was anchored in the Bay of Gibraltar, the Royal Gibraltar Police has said.
Following an inspection conducted aboard the 280-meter-long bulker, which was conducted on March 27, the officials found the illicit cargo concealed in what is termed as a parasite container attached to exterior of the hull under the water line.
It is estimated that the street value of the seized cocaine stands at GBP 6.5 million (USD 8 million).
The Royal Gibraltar Police said that the search of both the Liberian-flagged vessel and the exterior of the hull, the latter conducted by specialist underwater contractors, has stretched over the course of Monday afternoon and Tuesday.
On completion of the search operation the container was brought ashore at the Gibraltar Government Marine Station.
Relevant authorities arrested the Master of the vessel, Chief Engineer and a crewman from the 2008-built ship.
According to AIS data provided by MarineTraffic, the 176,943 dwt bulker on its way to the port of Iskenderun in Turkey.
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