Venezuelan national Guard confirmed the seizure of almost 150 kg of cocaine onboard the Panamanian-flagged tanker ‘Jose Progress’, during a routine inspection at the docks of José Antonio Anzoátegui Petrochemical Complex.
According to sources, the drug, weighing 147.5 kilos, was found when officials of the Inspectoría General of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB Bolivia) conducted a routine underwater inspection of the ship’s anchor. The packages were on the outside of the submerged hull.
Loaded with 40,000 tons of methanol, the ship was en route to the Port of Ghent, Belgium, with expected arrival on 20 October.
The tanker and the 20 crewmen onboard are detained.
GNB Bolivia assured that this was the first seizure of this type for this year.
AIS data show the ship’s current location is off Venezuela’s Puerto La Cruz.
