Five crew members arrested for drug smuggling in Belgium
A drug-smuggling incident aboard the tanker Scot Bremen off the coast of Belgium led to multiple arrests after the vessel’s master discovered concealed narcotics and alerted authorities.
The Maltese-flagged product tanker Scot Bremen, operated by Scot Tankers, was en route from Pecem, Brazil, and arrived off the coast of Ostend, Belgium, on June 20. While anchored and awaiting a pilot on June 22, the vessel’s master discovered that five crew members were concealing suspected packages.
He immediately canceled pilot boarding, isolated the individuals, confiscated their mobile phones, and notified Belgian police and customs authorities. Scot Tankers has praised the decisive actions of the master.
Due to adverse weather, authorities were unable to board the vessel at anchor. The ship proceeded to Zeebrugge, arriving on June 23, where Belgian customs officials boarded and found significant quantities of cocaine. The five crew members were detained by Belgian police, while the master and the vessel were released after being questioned as witnesses.
Separately, eight individuals were arrested in Blankenberge, Belgium, on June 22 as they attempted to launch a boat, allegedly to retrieve the narcotics from Scot Bremen while it was anchored offshore.
Investigations into the smuggling operation are ongoing.
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