Turkish-owned tanker seized in Belgium for drug smuggling

Authorities in Belgium detained a foreign-owned commercial vessel earlier this week after it was discovered to be transporting cocaine totalling "hundreds of kilos," local media reported.

Belgian customs officials boarded the Turkish-owned product tanker Scot Bremen shortly after its arrival at Zeebrugge on Monday, June 23.

The ship had earlier left Brazil and had arrived off the coast of Ostend on Friday, June 20. It remained at anchor off Ostend for three days before finally sailing for Zeebrugge, where it was detained following the discovery of the narcotics on board.

Police had earlier arrested eight individuals on suspicion of being involved in the drug-smuggling operation.

According to local news outlet Belga, the arrested individuals had attempted to head out to sea to Scot Bremen while it was off Ostend with the aim of retrieving the cocaine and bringing it to shore.

The individuals were reportedly arrested just as they were about to board a small boat and depart the marina at the town of Blankenberge, which was around 15 nautical miles from where the tanker had been anchored prior to heading to Zeebrugge.

Local prosecutors have yet to file smuggling charges against the eight individuals.