The operation involved teams from the Turkiye Ministry of Commerce's Customs Enforcement and Zonguldak Police Department's Anti-Narcotics Unit, with support from diver police deployed from Kocaeli’s Izmit district.
During the search, 141.5 kilograms of cocaine were found on board. Ten crew members from Croatia, Russia, and the Philippines were detained and later arrested following a judicial process.
Charges of drug trafficking were brought against them, with sentences ranging from 20 to 30 years in prison.
The trial took place at the Karadeniz Ereğli Courthouse, with the crew members, their lawyers, and interpreters in attendance. Security measures were taken around the courthouse.
The ship's captain, M.D., defended himself in court, stating that he had requested additional security and cameras on the vessel to prevent illegal substances from being placed on board. He claimed the cocaine was hidden in an area of the ship that was difficult to access and insisted that he had done everything in his power to ensure the ship’s security.
No Fingerprint
The second officer, A.A., argued that the drugs might have been loaded during nighttime operations in Colombia, when visibility was poor. The chief engineer, L.P., explained that he had no responsibility for the area where the drugs were found, as his duties were limited to the mechanical functioning of the ship.
Other crew members similarly denied knowledge of the drugs and requested their release.
The defense highlighted that none of the fingerprints on the drugs matched those of the crew members. However, the court sentenced the captain and the second officer to 30 years in prison, along with a fine of 200,000 Turkish lira, while the other eight crew members were acquitted.
The hearing was attended by Croatia's Ambassador to Turkey, Hrvoje Cvitanovic, along with consular representatives from other countries.
