FROM the Maritime Executive comes this disturbing news:
“The New Zealand Defense Force working in conjunction with law enforcement and customs has retrieved more than three tons of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean at what they believe was a “transit point,” for international drug smugglers. New Zealand’s Police Commissioner estimated the value of the seizure at more than U.S. $316 million saying that due to its size, it was likely meant for the Australian market.
“This was one of the single biggest seizures of illegal drugs by the authorities in this country,” said Andrew Coster, the New Zealand Police Commissioner. He estimated that there was enough cocaine found to supply Australia for one year or nearly 30 years in New Zealand, which he said is a small market for the drug.
“In an operation code named Hydos, the New Zealand Police, working in partnership with New Zealand Customs Service and the New Zealand Defense force located a total of 81 bales at an undisclosed location in the Pacific. Operation Hydros they said was initiated in December 2022 working with international agencies to identify and monitor “suspicious vessels’ movements.”
“Cocaine floats,” said Greg Williams the director of the New Zealand police’s organized crime group during a press briefing. He explained that the drugs were wrapped in nets with flotation devices and left in the ocean for couriers to collect. He said this operation is not uncommon and for example that they have found cocaine washed up as far away as Tonga.
“The unusually large size of the discovery was thought to be a new example of the impact the disruption in the global supply chain and shipping is having. They speculated that the crime syndicates were testing different shipping methods. Over the past few years during the pandemic, other police forces around the world have made similar observations about the increase in the size of shipments and new methods used by organized crime due to the changes in the global shipping markets.”
Three tons’ worth of cocaine found floating in a giant raft. What does it mean? The short answer is that drug smugglers are trying new and creative ways to move their product. Could it be that law enforcement efforts are working, which drives drug dealers to extraordinary means?
This is an unusually large amount of cocaine, more than anyone could smuggle onboard a plane, for example. This method evades most of the normal methods of detection and interdiction, and it carries with it the added benefit of eliminating the person to person exchange. If someone was followed, their contact could not be found out. If a particular vessel was under suspicion, no other boat need get near it. And no risk of a double-cross or a shoot-out at the point of exchange like in the movies.
A raft of three tons of cocaine found floating in the ocean can either mean the drug business is doing very well, or it has become increasingly desperate. I hope it is the second.
BC Cook, PhD lived on Saipan and has taught history for 20 years. He currently resides on the mainland U.S.
BC Cook
