Anchor tied to cocaine found on salvage bulk carrier in Turkey

Turkish authorities seized around 52 kilograms of cocaine that had been wrapped in plastic and attached to the chain of a ship’s anchor. The operation took place on the Liberian-flagged vessel M/V Berge Torre while it was anchored in Adana Yumurtalik in Iskenderun Bay. The ship had departed Puerto Bolívar, Colombia, on October 19, according to AIS data. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya released a video showing divers inspecting the ship’s propellers, rudder, and anchors, and stated that the ship’s captain and some crew members were being questioned as part of the investigation. However, it was unclear whether they were involved in the smuggling operation. Yerlikaya also emphasized that Turkey will not tolerate drug trafficking and that their ports are closely monitored.

The cocaine, weighing 52 kilograms, was confiscated from the dry cargo ship called BERGE TORRE, which was anchored off Adana Yumurtalik in İskenderun Bay. The ship’s captain, assistant captains, and 26 crew members are under suspicion, and the Turkish government is vowing to crack down on drug dealers using close monitoring of ports. Yerlikaya’s firm stance indicates a zero-tolerance approach to drug smuggling in Turkey, with a commitment to preventing narcotics from entering the country.

The seizure of cocaine from a ship’s anchor in Turkey has led to an investigation involving the ship’s captain and some crew members, as well as a strong statement from the Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya against drug trafficking. The confiscated 52 kilograms of cocaine was discovered on the Liberian-flagged vessel M/V Berge Torre, and the Turkish government has emphasized its commitment to closely monitoring ports in order to prevent the entry of illegal drugs into the country.

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