Drug traffickers continue to target commercial ships for hiding their illicit shipments.
In the most recent incident, a diver was spotted by port authorities in a suspicious activity near a containership docked at a container terminal in the Port of Santos, Brazil on February 14.
The ship has been identified by local media as the 2015-built Post-Panamax containership MSC Meline, which was destined for Las Palmas, Spain.
Police teams were sent to the spot to investigate, however, the diver managed to escape leaving two waterproof bags behind him containing 55 kg of cocaine. Another 57 kg of cocaine was found on board the ship.
It is believed the intention of the diver was to take the drugs to the side of the ship wherefrom it would be lifted on board the ship and hidden.
It is not clear whether the two drug shipments were connected.
MSC Meline was allowed to resume its voyage and is currently moored in Rio de Jeneiro, based on its AIS data.
MSC is yet to provide WMN with a comment on the matter.
World Maritime News Staff