An operation conducted by the Federal Police (PF) this Sunday (10) resulted in the seizure of 341.5 kilos of cocaine at Santos Port. The drug was hidden in the hull of the ship "Green K-Max 1", which was set to depart for Poland.
The merchandise was in the sea chest, a compartment located in the internal part of the hull, below the waterline, which is used to draw seawater necessary for cooling the engines.
The procedure for inspecting and removing the drug from this location is considered strategic and high-risk. In addition to the Federal Police, the operation had the participation of the Brazilian Navy, Brazilian Federal Revenue, and Port Authority Guard.
After removal, the drug was sent to the Federal Police headquarters in Santos, which reported that it opened a police inquiry to investigate the authorship of the crime and identify those responsible for international drug trafficking. The seized substance will also undergo technical examination.
According to the Federal Revenue, the selection of the ship for inspection was not random. The operation was the result of rigorous risk management and analysis work. Auditors and agents monitor routes, crew behaviors, and histories of vessels operating at the Santos dock, which made it possible to discover the illicit material before the vessel began its international voyage.
The seizure underscores the strategic importance of Santos Port in combating transatlantic trafficking. As one of the main exit points for goods destined for Europe and Africa, the terminal frequently attracts the interest of criminal organizations. To counter increasingly sophisticated methods of concealing drugs, security forces have intensified the use of divers and hull scanning technologies.
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