Coast Guard nets 400kg of cocaine bound for Brazil

A crew of ten sailors remained in custody at the Coast Guard's Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas, headquarters up until late Thursday afternoon, as a search of the ship they were travelling on continued.

An estimated 400 kilograms of cocaine was found on board.

Sources told Newsday the coast guard intercepted the Ecuador-flagged ship off the north coast early on Tuesday morning after receiving information that the ship was transporting the drugs.

Investigators said the drugs were worth an estimated TT $160 million.

Newsday understands the drugs were destined for Belem, Brazil.

Officials said the investigation was at a "crucial stage" and did not want to disclose much information.

The raid was carried out by an elite unit of the defence force.

In March, Reuters reported that Brazil drug gangs were emerging as top cocaine exporters to Europe.

On April 1 US President Donald Trump announced that he would authorise US naval assets to take a more proactive role in fighting the transshipment of drugs from South America.

Earlier this month US Navy Admiral Craig Faller confirmed in a telephone media conference that the navy would be working closely with the TT defence force in intercepting drug shipments in and around South America, particularly Venezuela.