Maritime Chef Detained as Authorities Uncover Massive Cocaine Haul in Argentina

In a significant drug bust, Argentine authorities have intercepted nearly 500 kilograms of high-grade cocaine concealed on a cargo ship set for Amsterdam. the cook aboard the vessel has been arrested after admitting his role in the smuggling operation.

On April 29, as the bulk carrier Ceci was preparing to depart from San Lorenzo, its captain noticed suspicious packages in the cold storage area and promptly alerted authorities. This led to an extensive search involving law enforcement, sniffer dogs, and coast guard personnel.The Ceci was loaded with 46,000 tons of sunflower seeds destined for Europe via Montevideo when officials discovered 469.5 kilograms of cocaine cleverly hidden within refrigerators and crew quarters. The drugs were packed into 16 waterproof bundles containing a total of 379 bricks marked with crown symbols—indications that organized crime might potentially be at play.

Flying under the Marshall Islands flag and managed by a Greek firm, this ship had recently traveled from the UAE and Iran before stopping in Montevideo for several days prior to its arrival in Argentina on April 25.

During routine checks late on April 29, the captain reported his findings to his shipping company. This prompted immediate action from various agencies including Argentina’s Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF),leading to thorough inspections that uncovered not just drugs but also GPS devices believed intended for transferring narcotics overboard for later retrieval by accomplices.

The street value of this cocaine is estimated at around $6 million locally but could have fetched upwards of €20 million if it had reached European markets. Authorities noted that such elegant smuggling tactics suggest involvement from an organized crime syndicate rather than mere opportunistic criminals.

Argentine Minister of security Patricia Bullrich hailed this operation as a major victory against drug trafficking and drew parallels with El Salvador’s aggressive anti-gang strategies under President Nayib Bukele. She emphasized that this seizure marks one of San Lorenzo port’s largest river-based drug interceptions ever recorded.

Following these developments, all twenty Filipino crew members were detained for questioning while Jonathan Caputero—the cook—was placed in pretrial detention after confessing his involvement in concealing the drugs. His phone has been seized as part of ongoing investigations into how these narcotics made their way onto the ship; he suggested thay might have been loaded while docked in Montevideo—a claim investigators are scrutinizing closely given timing concerns.

Authorities are currently reviewing surveillance footage from ports to piece together how exactly these bales were smuggled aboard; theories include transfer via small boats or hidden among legitimate supply deliveries using ropes during loading operations. Saltwater traces found on some bundles lend credence to suspicions about sea-based drop-offs being involved.

Interestingly enough, law enforcement sources indicate cartels often target financially struggling seafarers like Caputero for such operations—offering them money in exchange for their complicity without fully disclosing risks involved.

This operation saw collaboration across multiple agencies including customs officials and federal prosecutors who collectively aim to dismantle networks behind such illicit activities; so far this year alone, Argentina has confiscated over 3,600 kilograms of cocaine through similar efforts.