big cocaine bust at Cape Verde

  Cape Verde police have detained 11 Russian sailors for the suspected smuggling of more than 9 tons of cocaine, Russian news agencies reported citing local police.

RIA news agency said the ship ESER, sailing under Panama's flag, was heading to Tangier in Morocco from Panama.  It was detained after it stopped at Porto Praia following the death of a crew member. https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/2019/02/02/russian-sailors-detained-in-cape-verde-for-smuggling-9-tons-of-cocaine

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  An EU drugs operation has resulted in what is thought to be the biggest ever haul of cocaine on this side of the Atlantic with the seizure of 9.5 tonnes of the drug off the coast of West Africa.  The haul would have a nominal value of around €650m but, given its very high purity, would be worth many multiples of that once broken down by various criminal organisations.

  The seizure was made by authorities in the island republic of Cape Verde, off the coast of west Africa, as a result of intelligence provided by the EU’s Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre-Narcotics.  The operational taskforce, based in Lisbon, comprises seven member states:  France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal,and the UK.  The agency suspects that the shipment would have been bound for the lucrative European market, including Ireland....

  Sources said that such shipments often transit through west Africa before heading up the coast of Europe, where the haul is offloaded onto fishing vessels....Also this week 2.1 tonnes was seized in Italy, its largest cocaine haul in 25 years, off a boat from South America and destined for Spain.    https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/biggest-ever-cocaine-haul-sees-95-tonnes-seized-901837.html

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-General cargo ship ESER, IMO 8415158, dwt 3800, built 1985, flag Panama, manager GEMICILER DENIZCILIK NAKLIYAT, Turkey (EQUASIS).  https://maritimebulletin.net/2019/02/01/9-5-tons-of-cocaine-seized-on-board-of-cargo-ship-russian-crew-arrested/

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https://polisen.se/siteassets/dokument/ovriga_rapporter/fentanyl-analogues-report-english.pdf