KOTA PUSAKA

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Cocaine in street value of 50 million US dollars found in Hong Kong

Suspected cocaine with a street value of 50 million US dollars was found aboard the 'Kota Pusaka', after arrived in Hong Kong on Nov 7, 2023. In a joint operation, police and customs officers raided the 'Kota Pusaka' after being informed that two men, identified as non-crew members, had boarded the vessel from a speedboat while it was docked in Guatemala. Based on the route of the 'Kota Pusaka', and the suspicious conduct, the Hong Kong police deduced that the men were not simply stowaways and had smuggled the drugs into the vessel and stayed on the 'Kota Pusaka' to deliver the drugs in Hong Kong. Shortly after the vessel berthed at the Kwai Chung Container Terminal, the police and customs officers boarded it and singled out three 40-feet containers, out of the more than 8,000 loaded containers. The containers, declared as carrying Guatemalan marshmallows, appeared to have been opened and had seal numbers that were inconsistent with the relevant shipping documents, arousing the officer'S suspicions. X-rays showed that the dubious containers had a different density and shape from the other containers on the vessel. After opening the boxes, the officers found nine bags tied with a hemp rope. The bags contained life-saving supplies, such as life jackets and buoys, but were found to have concealed 318 packets of white powder that were confirmed to be cocaine. The purported drugs weighed one kilo. The men who allegedly boarded the 'Kota Pusaka' were arrested on the spot and were charged with drug trafficking on Nov 9. The 'Kota Pusaka' had called at Guatemala's Puerto Quetzal port on Sep 25. The vessel and crew have been cleared and have departed Hong Kong on Nov 9.