Bulgarian customs officials recently seized approximately 370 pounds of cocaine from a ship carrying bananas from Ecuador. The drugs were found concealed in a fruit container aboard the cargo ship Madison 2, with an estimated value of $6.8 million. District prosecutor Georgi Chinev confirmed the seizure, revealing that the ship had also made a stop in Malta during its journey. This is the largest drug seizure at the port of Burgas, as noted by the head of the customs agency, Petya Bankova.
Authorities in Bulgaria made an accidental discovery of a submarine containing 4 tons of cocaine while searching for a missing fisherman. Upon investigating further, they found that the drugs were hidden in 150 packages behind a factory-made wall within one of the fruit containers on the ship. Bankova mentioned that after unloading the cargo, the ship left the port, prompting an investigation into the intended recipients of the cocaine. If convicted on drug trafficking charges, they could face up to 20 years in jail.
Bulgaria has taken significant steps in recent years to combat drug trafficking, especially as the country is considered a transit point for cocaine from Latin America en route to Western Europe. The confiscation of the large quantity of cocaine from the ship transporting bananas from Ecuador is an example of the vigilance and efforts being made by Bulgarian authorities to crack down on drug smuggling activities. The massive seizure and subsequent investigation reflect the country’s commitment to addressing drug trafficking issues within its borders.
