US authorities have reportedly released the container ship ‘MSC Gayane’, almost a month after the ship was seized with 20 tons of cocaine in Philadelphia, marking one of the largest drug seizures in the US history. The ship was released after the operator posted $50 million, including $10 million in cash.
The release of the vessel means the ship can now resume commercial operations, after the owner JP Morgan and operator MSC paid $50 million in cash and a surety bond to secure its temporary release, as informed by US attorney William M. McSwain:
The ship was boarded by US federal, state and local law enforcement agents while docked in Philadelphia’s Packer Marine Terminal on 17 June.
Authorities found the cocaine, worth more than $1 billion, in seven shipping containers. They officially seized the ship on 9 July. Eight crew members have been charged and remain in custody.
However, MSC Gayane is still subject to possible forfeiture if the probe links senior crew members with the cocaine haul, people with knowledge of the matter told The Wall Street Journal.
On Monday afternoon, the ship was transiting the Atlantic Ocean bound for port of Rotterdam, according to MarineTraffic.
In March, local authorities seized also the MSC Desiree in the port, with nearly 1,200 pounds of cocaine onboard.
