Cargo ships dumped 1,600 kilos of cocaine
Two cargo ships are accused of dumping a total of 1,636 kilograms of cocaine while passing through Danish waters, which was then supposed to be picked up by various recipient groups.
This claim is made by the National Unit for Special Crime in two criminal cases, which are set to be processed by the district courts in Holbæk and Svendborg.
Both ships are carrying refrigerated goods from South America to Russia. However, onboard, there was also - according to the indictment - illegal cargo, which was thrown into the water off the Danish coasts.
One ship is named "Cool Explorer" and the other "Cool Eagle." The criminal deliveries took place in the spring and summer of last year, according to the indictments.
On March 15, at 1:30 a.m., 818 kilos were dumped near Samsø from the first-mentioned ship.
Exactly one month later, "Cool Eagle" dropped 120 kilos near Romsø, and when the same ship was near Denmark again on July 23, another similar amount was thrown into the sea off the northern coast of Langeland.
At the same spot, "Cool Explorer" passed by in late summer on August 24, and according to the indictment, 578 kilos were thrown into the water for the recipients.
Each time, this occurred under the cover of darkness, as stated in the indictments.
No sailors are named in this case. Instead, the accusations are directed at two groups of men, who, according to the indictment, had traveled to Denmark to carry out the task.
In two instances, the recipients managed to escape with 120 kilos, it is claimed. However, on two other occasions, things went wrong.
The case from Samsø was brought to the authorities' attention when hikers along the beaches of Sejerøbugten discovered one mysterious package after another.
According to the indictment, a significant effort was made by the group sent out to retrieve the valuable kilos from the water.
For eksempel blev der lejet et skib i Höganäs i Sverige. Gruppen sejlede så over til Samsø for at lede efter narkoen i fragtskibets rute.
In a van, a man drove to the port of Aarhus to receive the goods, and the same man purchased a remote-controlled drone from Elgiganten in Horsens, which he allegedly used on Samsø in an attempt to find the cocaine.
However, all of this was in vain. The kilos drifted up on the beaches of Sejerøbugten.
In the case involving the 578 kilos near Langeland, an Albanian man chose to confess. He had received the job in Belgium, he told the court in December.
Five other men, also Albanian, who deny the charges, are waiting for their case to be decided. As in the Samsø case, the preparations were quite significant, as described in the indictment.
Two of the men were also - according to NSK's claim - involved in the cases concerning the two 120-kilo drops.
For these, a personal car and a van with German license plates were rented, a holiday home in Tranekær was leased, and a boat trailer was driven to Langeland.
One of the accused is said to have taken photos and videos of coastal stretches, including Bøgebjerg Strand, and he and another were reportedly accommodated at Camp Hverringe in Dalby, as stated in the indictment.
As mentioned, the district courts in Holbæk and Svendborg will determine whether the accused are guilty.
In Holbæk, the case against two men will begin in September. It has yet to be determined when the Svendborg court will start the trial for the five accused.
/ritzau/
