What Crew Members Say About Chemstar-Sapphire

In a significant drug seizure, authorities uncovered 200 kilos of cocaine on board the 'Chemstar Sapphire' upon its docking in Melbourne on August 23, 2023. The vessel, which departed from Quequén in Buenos Aires on July 5, was initially transporting a substantial shipment of 6,500 tons of sunflower oil. The hidden stash of cocaine was cleverly concealed within the ship's pipes. This discovery was made possible after security forces conducted a meticulous inspection of the tanker using a submarine technique. During their search, they identified a suspicious component in the tanker’s designated 'trunk' area. Valued at approximately US$50 million, the confiscated cocaine represents nearly AU$80 million in Australian currency. While the authorities successfully seized the drugs, no arrests were made during this operation, and the ship was allowed to proceed. The Australian Federal Police are now actively investigating to trace the origins of the narcotics and ascertain the location of the loading.