What Crew Members Say About Cool-Explorer

Authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against two vessels, the 'Cool Explorer' and 'Cool Eagle', after they allegedly discharged a staggering total of 1,636 kilograms of cocaine while navigating through Danish waters. The National Unit for Special Crimes has filed indictments that are set to be adjudicated in the district courts located in Holbæk and Svendborg. Both ships were carrying refrigerated cargo from South America bound for Russia when the illicit substances were dumped into the sea off the Danish coast during the spring and summer of 2024. According to the indictments, the 'Cool Explorer' released 818 kilos of cocaine near Samsø on March 15 at approximately 1:30 AM. Just one month later, on April 15, the 'Cool Eagle' was reported to have offloaded another 120 kilos in the vicinity of Romsø. Further dumping occurred on July 23 when the 'Cool Eagle' cast another similar amount into the northern coast waters of Langeland. On August 24, the 'Cool Explorer' was implicated in dumping 578 kilos in the same area. The operations apparently took place under the cover of darkness, as outlined in the legal documents. Two groups of individuals are under investigation; most were reportedly from abroad, having traveled to Denmark specifically for this illicit operation. Notably, while one duo succeeded in retrieving 120 kilos, their efforts were thwarted on two occasions by authorities, particularly after beachgoers in Sejerø Bay discovered suspicious packages drifting ashore. The indictments reveal a concerted effort by the perpetrators, with one group chartering a ship in Höganäs to scour the waters around Samsø for the submerged cocaine. One individual even drove a van to the port of Aarhus to collect the drugs, allegedly utilizing a remote-controlled drone purchased from Elgiganten in Horsens in an effort to locate the dropped cargo—yet their attempts proved futile as the narcotics washed up on the beaches in Sejerø Bay. As for the 578-kilo incident near Langeland, an Albanian suspect has confessed to his involvement, claiming he was assigned the task while in Belgium. Meanwhile, five additional men, also of Albanian descent, have pleaded not guilty and await trial. Highlights from the indictment indicate extensive preparations, including rented vehicles and accommodations at a summer house in Tranekær, where suspects reportedly captured video and photographic evidence of coastal regions. The district courts in Holbæk and Svendborg are now poised to determine the guilt of the defendants, with proceedings against two men set to commence in Holbæk this September. The start date for the trial of the five defendants in Svendborg remains yet to be established.