350kg Cocaine Haul: How Smugglers Hid $31m in a Ship’s Sea Chest
Turkish divers recovered 350kg of cocaine worth $31m from a bulker’s sea chest in Mersin port.
Turkish authorities have intercepted a major cocaine shipment hidden inside a cargo vessel’s sea chest at the port of Mersin, uncovering approximately 350 kilograms of the drug with an estimated street value of $31 million. The operation, conducted by divers from the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and narcotics police, targeted the CSPC Pisces, a Liberian-flagged bulker owned by Chinese operators.
The vessel had arrived in Mersin on September 11 after sailing from Brazil, with a stop in Tarragona, Spain. During an underwater inspection, authorities discovered 12 sealed packages concealed in the ship’s sea chest, along with diving gear and an underwater scooter. Nine individuals suspected of involvement in the smuggling operation have been detained.
Smugglers Exploit Maritime Vulnerabilities: Sea Chest
This seizure highlights a growing trend in drug trafficking, where smugglers hide narcotics in a ship’s sea chest—a tactic increasingly documented by maritime security experts. According to a recent analysis by intelligence firm Windward, there have been 20 confirmed cases of this method since 2017. Smugglers favor bulk carriers and tankers due to their predictable routes and extended port stays, which allow divers to retrieve hidden shipments without detection.
Windward’s report suggests that vessel crews are often unaware of the smuggling, as traffickers exploit structural weaknesses in ships without the knowledge of operators. The discovery of diving equipment alongside the cocaine further indicates that smugglers planned to retrieve the drugs underwater after the ship docked.
Mersin Port as a Key Entry Point
Mersin has become a critical hub for cocaine entering Europe from Latin America. Turkish authorities report that the port has seen 4.1 metric tons of cocaine seized between 2018 and 2024. Earlier this year, nearly 300 kilograms were found in a container labeled as peanuts, also originating from Brazil.
The latest bust reflects a broader rise in cocaine trafficking through Turkey. In 2024 alone, police confiscated over three metric tons of the drug, marking a 23% increase from the previous year. Investigators are now working to dismantle the network behind the shipment, as authorities intensify efforts to curb smuggling through maritime routes.
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