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Liberia in record cocaine seizure Liberia in record cocaine seizure
(about 7 hours later)
A ship containing about 2.5 tonnes of cocaine has been seized from a ship off the coast of Liberia. Barrels containing about 2.5 tonnes of cocaine have been seized from a ship off the coast of Liberia.
It is the single largest drug seizure in the country's history, according to maritime officials.It is the single largest drug seizure in the country's history, according to maritime officials.
The ship,the Blue Atlantic, was spotted on the high seas on Thursday by a French military vessel, which intercepted and towed it to the port. The ship, the Blue Atlantic, was spotted on the high seas on Thursday by a French military vessel, which intercepted and towed it to the port.
South American cartels are increasingly trying to send their drugs to Europe through West Africa.South American cartels are increasingly trying to send their drugs to Europe through West Africa.
The BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh in Monrovia says that Liberian security officials at first did not know what to do with haul.The BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh in Monrovia says that Liberian security officials at first did not know what to do with haul.
If this had hit the Liberian market, it would have destroyed the entire country Ashford Pearl Monrovia Port Security They said they had not yet decided whether to burn the cocaine or dump it into the ocean.If this had hit the Liberian market, it would have destroyed the entire country Ashford Pearl Monrovia Port Security They said they had not yet decided whether to burn the cocaine or dump it into the ocean.
They were concerned that dumping it could have a negative impact on the environment.They were concerned that dumping it could have a negative impact on the environment.
Ashford Pearl, the head of Port Security in Monrovia said 92 barrels of cocaine had been seized.Ashford Pearl, the head of Port Security in Monrovia said 92 barrels of cocaine had been seized.
"It is huge; if this had hit the Liberian market, it would have destroyed the entire country," he said."It is huge; if this had hit the Liberian market, it would have destroyed the entire country," he said.
Officials said all nine members of the crew arrested on board the ship were Ghanaians who were immediately turned over to the Liberian police.Officials said all nine members of the crew arrested on board the ship were Ghanaians who were immediately turned over to the Liberian police.
"They arrested the vessel on high seas; it wasn't in the Liberian waters, but they towed it to Liberia because the ship was flying the flag of Liberia," Mr Pearl said."They arrested the vessel on high seas; it wasn't in the Liberian waters, but they towed it to Liberia because the ship was flying the flag of Liberia," Mr Pearl said.
West Africa, has increasingly become a point favoured by Latin American drug cartels because of weak local law enforcement and a largely unsupervised coastline.West Africa, has increasingly become a point favoured by Latin American drug cartels because of weak local law enforcement and a largely unsupervised coastline.
The drugs are flown or shipped across the Atlantic and then onto markets in Europe.The drugs are flown or shipped across the Atlantic and then onto markets in Europe.
The past year has seen large cocaine seizures in other countries in the region including Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Sierra Leone.The past year has seen large cocaine seizures in other countries in the region including Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Sierra Leone.