LILONGWE, Malawi

Mozambican police seized 573 kilograms (1,263 pounds) of cocaine from an Indian ship, the country’s National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) said on Monday night.

Hilario Lole, SERNIC spokesperson, told the press that the cocaine was in 2,025-liter drums in a container carrying construction material.

He said the seizure of the drugs was carried out following a tip-off about the existence of “dubious” merchandize in one of the several containers of the ship which docked in the country on Nov. 3.

“After laboratory tests on the substance, it’s concluded that it’s cocaine. We have therefore launched investigations to identify the owners of the merchandize and to determine the final destination of the drugs,” Lole said.

He, however, said no arrests have been made so far.

Lole further said that international drug traffickers have continued to use the country to transit drugs to different parts of the world.

According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, more than 2.5 tons of cocaine, heroin and cannabis were seized in Mozambique in 2023.