- Divers in Poland discovered over 220 pounds of cocaine worth $15 million at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The find was part of a joint operation by the Polish Border Guard, Europol and the DEA to secure underwater infrastructure.
- Seven people were arrested and an organized crime group involved in drug smuggling was dismantled.
- The Baltic Sea is heavily patrolled due to recent sabotage concerns, and this discovery follows other significant cocaine finds in Europe, including nearly a ton in Luxembourg and seven tons in Spain.
Full Story
Divers in Poland found more than 220 pounds of cocaine, worth $15 million, at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Poland’s border guard announced the discovery on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The find follows several other discoveries of narcotics across Europe.
Officers with the Border Guard Maritime Unit said they found the cocaine at the bottom of the sea near northern Poland.
Were arrests made?
Authorities revealed seven people were arrested and they “dismantled an organized crime group involved in smuggling significant amounts of drugs,” according to a press release.
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If convicted, the seven suspects arrested face up to 20 years in prison, according to officials.
Which agencies were involved?
The find came from a joint operation by the Polish Border Guard, Europol and the DEA to provide security for vital underwater infrastructure throughout Europe, which has been targeted by suspected sabotage from Russia’s “Shadow Fleet” of vessels.
As Straight Arrow News previously reported, late last year, NATO announced it would increase patrols in the Baltic Sea after several critical communication cables were severed.
The joint mission marks the latest find by European authorities of cocaine in odd places.
Where else have authorities found drugs?
Law enforcement in Luxembourg recently confiscated nearly a ton of cocaine found inside a stone crusher.
In December, Spanish authorities unearthed seven tons of cocaine buried underneath a farm.
Worldwide, authorities said traffickers have hidden cocaine in things ranging from car mufflers, surfboards, sugar and jalapeño peppers.
