Archive · 18 Jul 2025
Greek Owner Denies Cocaine Charges in 2023 Ship Seizure
Imagine a ship carrying coffee beans that was secretly also carrying a LOT of cocaine, worth a ton of money.
The ship was stopped by police near the Canary Islands, and they found the drugs.
The person who used to own the ship, a Greek man, is now being accused of being involved in a big drug smuggling operation.
He says he didn't do it.
Police had been watching the ship for a while, after they got a tip from British police.
The ship was bought by a company connected to the Greek man and later sold.
Now, he and others are facing charges in Greece, while police look for another person involved.
Greek former owner denies drug charges related to a cocaine-laden cargo ship seized in 2023.
Spanish authorities intercepted the Togo-flagged vessel Blume off the Canary Islands in January 2023, finding cocaine.
The former owner, his son, and a woman were detained by Greek authorities; a fourth suspect is at large.
The ship, which had been carrying cocaine with coffee beans, was monitored before the seizure.
The ship was bought by a company set up by the 68-year-old suspect, and later sold to a Turkish company.
- Who
- The Greek former owner, his son, and a woman were detained.
- What
- Greek former owner denies charges related to a cocaine-laden cargo ship seized in 2023.
- When
- The ship was seized in January 2023.
- Where
- Off the Canary Islands, and the suspects were detained in Greece.
- Why
- The suspects are accused of running an international drug trafficking group.
Prosecution
Defense
Involvement in Drug Trafficking
Prosecution
The accused is linked to an international drug trafficking ring
Defense
The accused maintains his innocence and denies any involvement in drug trafficking.
- Ship Name
- Blume
- Flag
- Togo
- Cocaine Value
- $200 million
- Detainees
- Former owner (68), son (24), and a woman
- Charges
- Running an international drug trafficking group
- Previous Owner's Company
- Rentoor Chartering
- Ship's Destination
- Russia