By Caribbean News Now contributor
NASSAU, Bahamas – The largest seizure in the Philadelphia region’s history was detected by United States (US) federal agents Monday. Officials are investigating whether more than 15,500 kilos of cocaine discovered in seven containers on board a cargo ship in Philadelphia, was packed onto the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Gayane in The Bahamas.
The cargo ship was moored at a South Philadelphia Port at 5 am Monday. US Federal agents boarded the ship later that afternoon, seizing more than 16.5 tons of cocaine, with a street value of $1 billion.
“This is one of the largest drug seizures in United States history,” Tweeted US attorney William M McSwain. The cargo ship earlier docked in Freeport, Grand Bahama on June 13.
According to widespread media reports, federal agents stated they were trying to ascertain whether the drugs were packed onto the ship while en route to Philadelphia or in The Bahamas.
When reached Monday, Superintendent Jamuel Ferguson, who commands the Drug Enforcement Unit, stated he was not briefed on the drug seizure at that time and couldn’t verify whether US officials had asked for the aid of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
The cocaine was seized from the ship MSC Gayane, which was travelling from The Bahamas, Chile and Panama before arriving in Philadelphia’s Delaware River.
According to investigators, the ship may have been packed with tons of illegal drugs in The Bahamas prior to reaching the United States. It was set to leave for Europe before authorities boarded it in Philadelphia.
The concealment of illegal drugs were in seven shipping containers, which agents opened, revealing the 16.5 tons of drugs in bags, an official stated. It is estimated to be the most massive drug seizure ever in the area.
Taking to Twitter, US attorney for Eastern Pennsylvania tweeted that, “Members of the ship’s crew have been arrested and federally charged and an…
