Mar 26 UPDATE: After intensive search, no drugs were found, bulk carrier and cleared of all suspicions. As of Mar 26, the ship remained berthed at Maceio. Brazilian police and Navy couldn’t explain or reveal the reason why did they suspect drug trafficking. Probably it was just a wild guess, a failed attempt to pocket one more drug bust.
Mar 24: Bulk carrier FRIENDLY ISLANDS was berthed at Maceio, Brazil, in the morning Mar 24, to undergo a thorough drug search by jointly by police, military police and firefighters, with the use of special dogs. The ship arrived at Maceio anchorage on Mar 13 from Vila do Conde – to load cargo of sugar, according to Captain, though no timeline was provided. For reasons yet unknown, Brazilian Navy found the ship suspicious, ordered her docking and launched search. Underwater hull is to be inspected, too.
Bulk carrier FRIENDLY ISLANDS, IMO 9615042, dwt 28387, built 2012, flag Liberia, manager ZODIAC since 2012, according to EQUASIS.
