CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The white yacht seized in Vanuatu had a secret under its worn parquet floor: brick after brick of South American cocaine.
The find U.S. and Australian officials announced today was part of a collaboration with South Pacific governments to investigate smugglers’ use of yachts to move drugs across the ocean to Australia.
The 1,650 pounds of cocaine were found Monday in the capital, Port Vila, with the assistance of Vanuatu police, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service said in a statement.
Agents chiseled into the boat interior to expose the drugs in the yacht’s engine compartment. Video authorities released of the seizure showed dozens of bricks wrapped in dirty black plastic.
They estimated the drugs were worth $330 million.
No arrests have yet been made.
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