Cocaine in MAERSK Container Ship with attached Watchmen UPDATE MAERSK Statement

MAERSK sent to MB its’ official statement with regards to cocaine bust on board of SVENDBORG MAERSK, which is given below. I personally, didn’t have any doubt that crew and company have absolutely nothing to do with cocaine found in container, the whole story caught my attention solely because of the fact of the presence of two persons in the container, who were looking after packages. That’s unusual and may mean drug traffickers use new schemes and methods in smuggling attempts.

Maersk can confirm that authorities at Manzanillo Terminal are conducting an investigation after allegedly two stevedores were found hidden alongside with narcotics in one container onboard SVENDBORG MAERSK on July 2nd, 2020. We are collaborating with the Mexican authorities in charge of the case. As a matter of policy, Maersk will not comment further while criminal investigations are ongoing.

Throughout all aspects of our vessel and shore operations, Maersk is committed to conducting our business in a responsible and lawful manner with respect for the wider economic, social and environmental impacts of our activities. Maersk does not accept illegal cargo and we have guidelines in place to guide staff on screening and handling cargo bookings, to be alert to anything unusual or suspicious. We proactively work with authorities to mitigate risk and will cooperate openly with relevant authorities during this investigations.

Mexican law enforcement officers after tip-off searched container ship SVENDBORG MAERSK on arrival at Manzanillo Mexico, on Jul 2. Two packages with 102.5 kilos of cocaine were found in the container, no big deal nowadays, except that there were two persons in the container, obviously put in there to look after packages.

The ship arrived from Buenaventura Colombia, via Panama Canal, next port of call understood to be in Japan. Was cocaine bound for Japan, and if so, were those watchmen supposed to follow packages all the way to Japan?

Container ship SVENDBORG MAERSK, IMO 9146467, dwt 110387, capacity 8680 TEU, built 1998, flag Denmark.