Record 5.3 tons of cocaine were found on board of bulk carrier PLUTUS by Italian law enforcement agencies, on Jul 19. The ship was caught red-handed while attempting to transfer cocaine to Italian drug traffickers. Cocaine load was dropped into the sea, to be recovered by fishing vessel FERDINANDO D ARAGON. Both vessels were arrested, PLUTUS remained at sea until Jul 21, then she was moved to Termini Imerese, northern Sicily, where she was berthed on Jul 22. Ship’s search was still under way on Jul 22, more cocaine might be found. 15 crew (2 Ukrainians, 8 Turks and 5 Azeri) meanwhile, were arrested, including Ukrainian Captain. Ship’s cocaine voyage started from Santo Domingo, Dominican, next calls were Trinidad and Tobago and Las Palmas, with final destination Turkey.
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