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A Tanzania-flagged ship, carrying approximately 4 tons of cocaine, was seized near the Canary Islands by Spanish and French authorities on Oct. 4.
The ship, named RAS, had departed from Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu port on July 28, according to a statement from Türkiye's Ministry of Interior.
https://twitter.com/TC_icisleri/status/1843979682074509589
Turkish Interior Ministry's statement on X.
The ship’s crew of 10 individuals, including seven Turkish nationals, two Azerbaijani and one Dutch, were arrested during the joint operation. The Interior Ministry shared details on social media, noting that the vessel’s route and speed were analyzed, revealing that the cocaine was likely transferred from “ghost ships” off the coast of Guinea or Mauritania before heading for Europe.
The RAS departed Istanbul in late July, made brief stops in Casablanca and Sierra Leone, and lingered in Bissau before heading toward Alexandria, Egypt. It was intercepted northeast of the Canary Islands. The Turkish police's anti-narcotics unit has been in close communication with Spanish counterparts to assist in the investigation.
Authorities suspect the drugs were intended for European markets.
3 min read
