17.04.23 – Italy: Police seize 2 tons of cocaine floating off Sicily. Italian authorities have seized almost two tons (2,000 kilograms) of cocaine off the coast of Sicily, officials said Monday. The haul has a street value of about €400 million ($440 million). The drugs were stored in about 70 waterproof packages and carefully sealed, the Italian Guardia di Finanza said in a statement. The tax and customs authorities called it a “record” seizure.
17.04.23 – Revenue seize cocaine worth €3,850,000 in Cork. On Friday (14/04/2023), as part of an intelligence-led operation, Revenue officers seized approximately 55kgs of cocaine with an estimated value of €3,850,000 at Ringaskiddy Port, County Cork. The illicit drugs were discovered with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner, Revenue’s Maritime Unit and detector dog Merlin, when a ship was searched upon its arrival from Ecuador. The illegal drugs were found hidden in the refrigeration unit of a maritime container.
18.04.23 – EOCO freezes 95 luxurious cars; directs owners to report before May 3. The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has announced that same Ninety-Five (95) luxurious cars have been frozen by its Executive Director. These cars which are in possession of some individuals and car dealerships are to be brought to the offices of EOCO no later than May 3 2023.
18.04.23 – 50 arrested for trafficking hashish and cocaine via the African route. Europol supported the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) and the Portuguese Judiciary Police (Policia Judiciaria) and National Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana) in dismantling a criminal network involved in trafficking large quantities of cocaine and hashish to the European Union via the African route. The investigation also involved law enforcement authorities from France and the United Kingdom. Spanish authorities seize 5 tonnes of hashish and 2 tonnes of cocaine during one-year investigation.
21.04.23 – Italian authorities in Venice found some 850 kg of cocaine on a ship belonging to the well-known Greek shipowner Panagiotis Laskaridis. Italian authorities, after searching a Greek-owned vessel in Venice, found a large amount of cocaine, some 850 kg, worth about 150 million euros. Trade Winds, which specializes in shipping, reported that the ship, the Atlas, which is under a Liberian flag, belongs to the Laskaridis Shipping company of the well-known Greek shipowner Panagiotis Laskaridis.
