Turkish authorities have seized nearly 52kg of cocaine on Berge Bulk’s capesize off the coast of Adana Yumurtalik in Iskenderun Bay.
In his statement on social media, Turkey’s’ interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, said the drugs were found tied to the anchor chain of the Liberian-flagged Berge Torre.
.Twenty-six suspects on board the 175,900 dwt ship, including its captain and first officer, have been detained in connection with the incident.
“I want our dear nation to know that we will not tolerate poison traffickers. Our ports are under close surveillance,” Yerlikaya stated on X, formerly known as Twitter.
According to the minister, teams from the Turkish narcotics police seized 51km and 750gr of the drug wrapped in 45 packages in two durable plastic bags.
The ship arrived in Turkey from Puerto Bolivar in Colombia on November 12.
