What Crew Members Say About Cape-Citius

On January 8, 2025, authorities apprehended nine individuals linked to a significant cocaine shipment of 1,100 kilos discovered within a container at the port of Vigo. The detainees, whose nationalities include Albanian and Belgian, are believed to have been planning to seize control of the illicit drugs. They were presented before the investigative court number 4 in Vigo, which is overseeing the ongoing probe. The suspects were escorted to the City of Justice in Vigo around 10:00 a.m., arriving in National Police vans amid substantial security arrangements, including police presence at the courthouse. The operation that culminated in these arrests was a collaborative effort led by the National Police alongside the Customs Surveillance Service. The cocaine was concealed within a shipment of fruit that had arrived from Ecuador aboard the vessel 'Cape Citius.' Following inspections at the Vigo port, the ship continued its journey to Malaga. Investigators suspect that the arrested individuals aimed to retrieve the drugs, which were secretly integrated into the legitimate cargo using a method known as 'blind hook.' This technique allows drug traffickers to hide narcotics among lawful shipments without the knowledge of those responsible for the cargo or the ship. Additionally, law enforcement agencies are examining potential connections between this shipment and other recent cocaine interceptions. Notably, in December, over 1,200 kilos of cocaine were intercepted by Ecuadorian officials in Guayaquil, where authorities discovered the drugs concealed inside containers of tuna, initially destined for Vigo. During that operation, 23 black plastic bundles containing 1,264 packets of cocaine were uncovered. Earlier in December, another separate seizure of 500 kilos of cocaine took place within a container at the port of Vigo that was being transported by the ‘Izmit Express,’ which had originated from Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. In this case, law enforcement had previously uncovered an additional 23 kilos of cocaine earlier in the vessel's holds. The investigation is also scrutinizing links to other international narcotics operations, including a notable interception of 13 tons of cocaine in Algeciras in October, hidden among consignments of bananas sourced from Ecuador. Furthermore, a separate operation in Madrid saw the discovery of 100 kilos of cocaine concealed within an air container, tied to a multinational network involving Albanian, Colombian, Moroccan, and other European individuals. For more details and photos from the operation, visit: https://enfoques.gal/galicia/comparecen-ante-el-juez-los-detenidos-por-el-alijo-de-cocaina-en-vigo/