Authorities seize hundreds of pounds of cocaine on ship near Miami
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Posted 10:11AM on Wednesday, January 9, 2002
MIAMI - The U.S. Coast Guard seized 376 pounds of cocaine stashed aboard a Bolivian cargo ship docked at Miami River. <br>
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Authorities discovered the cocaine Tuesday in a false bottom in the bow of the Debbie One. <br>
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U.S. Customs spokesman Zach Mann would not estimate the street value of the drugs, but said it was the biggest bust on the river since an effort to root out drug traffickers began last February. <br>
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None of the eight crew members was arrested and authorities were not releasing the ship owner's name. <br>
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Coast Guard officials became suspicious Monday after they boarded the ship at sea and records showed the ship's registered name had changed from Eclair Express the week before. <br>
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"To change names out at sea is very uncommon," customs agent Bobby Rutherford said. <br>
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