Argentina authorities arrested a Filipino cook after seizing 469,500 kilos of high-purity cocaine aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier CECI docked at the Vicentin company pier in San Lorenzo.

Media reports say the ship’s cook Jonathan Caputero, confessed to his role in the drug smuggling effort. The other 20 Filipino crew are also detained and under investigation. The ship’s captain reportedly alerted‍ authorities after noticing suspicious bags in the vessel’s refrigeration chambers. The captain reportedly contacted the shipowner, who then relayed the information to the appropriate authorities.

The Customs Collection and ​Control Agency (ARCA) estimates the street value of the seized cocaine to be approximately $6 million in the large-scale drug trafficking market. Patricia Bullrich, the nation’s Security Minister, stated that the $6 million worth of drugs bricks will automatically increase to $20 million once they reach Europe.

Initial investigation revealed that the ship had traveled from Dubai, making a stop at Pontón Arrogante in international waters of the Río de la Plata before ​arriving ‍in San Lorenzo. The ship was en route to the Netherlands with a declared cargo of sunflower pellets.

The cocaine was discovered in a‍ refrigerator on the merchant ship CECI, specifically within‍ a compartment containing food​ for the crew. Authorities noted that the packages were marked with images of crowns, suggesting a possible connection to a specific drug cartel.

This seizure highlights the ongoing challenges Argentina faces as a hotspot for‍ international ​drug trafficking. The case also serves as a reminder of the “blind hook” contamination technique, which could indicate port security breaches or collusion. 

The “blind hook” method is a technique used to introduce drugs into legitimate cargo. It involves breaking‌ customs seals on containers,‌ inserting the drugs, and resealing the‍ containers ‌with similar seals. ‍ While not explicitly mentioned in the initial reports of this specific seizure, ‍the incident recalls a larger problem of drug smuggling within the Rosario region.