Diving team finds 220 kilograms of cocaine underneath ship

A specialized diving unit in Rotterdam working with the country's Customs office found 220 kilos of cocaine stashed in underwater compartments of a ship from that journeyed from Santos, Brazil to the port of Rotterdam.

The narcotics were hidden in four sports bags stored in what authorities referred to as “sea lockers” at the bilge keel section of the Orange Sky, a special cargo ship used for transporting fruit juice. The lockers are actually openings beneath the water surface where seawater helps cool down the temperature inside the ship.

Authorities have since destroyed the drugs found.

Earlier this week, police arrested nine people between the ages of 25- to 50-years-old on the suspicion of drug smuggling and corruption, AD reported. Some of the suspects were workers at the port of Rotterdam. There has been growing concern about the ability to bribe or extort port workers to facilitate bringing drugs into the country.

At their homes, officials confiscated designer clothing, expensive watches, two cars and 400 thousand euros in cash.