More than 11 tons of cocaine seized in western Mexico[Hong Kong flagged ship from Colombia]

The Associated Press ^ | October 31, 2007

[SwinneySwitch]

MEXICO CITY: Mexican authorities seized more than 11 tons of cocaine in the western port city of Manzanillo, and said it was one of the nation's biggest drug busts ever.

During a routine inspection, federal police and marines discovered a cargo container filled with packets of the drug aboard the Hong Kong-flagged ship Esmeralda, which departed from Buenaventura, Colombia, the federal attorney general's office said in a statement Wednesday.

Authorities were still weighing the drugs but the statement said their weight had already surpassed 11 tons, making Tuesday's seizure "one of the greatest quantities of cocaine that has been decommissioned in the history of our country," the statement said.

On Oct. 5, authorities said they seized about 10 tons of cocaine following a shootout in the northern city of Tampico.

President Felipe Calderon has made the fight on drugs and organized crime a cornerstone of his administration, and the U.S. unveiled a proposal earlier this month to give Mexico US $1.4 billion....

[SwinneySwitch]

Last month, a jet plane with nearly 4 tons of cocaine crashed landed in southern Mexico. Some say it was forced down by the Mexican military.

[RSmithOpt]

A serious blow to the drug cartel.

[RichInOC]

“Cocaine’s a hell of a drug.”

[3AngelaD]

So then do they tow these cocaine boats out to sea and sink them? If not, why not?

[FES0844]

yeah, & it destroys us from within

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

i would rather that $1.4 billion go to securing the borders instead of Mexico! Then maybe the coke wouldn't get here in the first place.

I imagine this some of this 11 tons will find its way into the US anyway.

[rineaux]

“Cocaine’s a hell of a drug.”

LOL - Rick James on Chapell show with Charles Murphy.

[wastedyears]

They’re going to distribute the rewards accordingly.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

[Calpernia]

Hmm, a made in China ping? Well, how about a transport by China?

[Redbob]

Somebody in Columbia must not be current in his payments to Mexican police.

[Calpernia]

Details for the ship Esmeralda

Esmeralda

Esmeralda Cargo Ship
IMO Number:	9181170	Country:	Liberia
MMSI Number:	636091005	Length:	152.0m
Callsign:	A8IN8	Beam:	23.0m

[Calpernia]

Make that FLAG by China

[Calpernia]

Mexico, Liberia, China, what a Big Tent

[RSmithOpt]

Yup...that’s exactly what it does to people!! LOL! A very well-acted movie on Pacino’s part in “Scarface’.

[AuntB]

Mexico, Liberia, China, what a Big Tent

What's the matter with you Calpernia? They're just following the global trade model that some demand!

[Calpernia]

I can almost laugh at this.

But it is really pathetic!

[3AngelaD]

But this Esmeralda that you posted is flagged in Liberia, not Hong Kong. Are you positive this is the same one? Esmeralda is a very common ship name.

[Calpernia]

I didn't get a lot of returns when looking up this ship. What other country has the Esmeralda? And it is very common for ships to change their flags of origin while smuggling and such.

[FreePaul]

A Hong Kong registered Esmeralda is shown at this location:

Esmeralda