The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released the MSC GAYANE after a three-week detention. Authorities previously seized the vessel following a massive 20-ton cocaine discovery at the Port of Philadelphia. The raid took place on July 4, when federal agents found the drugs hidden inside seven cargo containers. The illicit shipment carried an estimated market value of 1.3 billion dollars.
Initially, US Attorney William McSwain announced the ship would remain in CBP custody for potential permanent forfeiture. However, the owner and operator later secured a temporary release. To do this, they posted 10 million dollars in cash and a 40 million dollar surety bond.
Following the legal agreement, the container ship left Philadelphia for the Port of Rotterdam. The vessel can now resume its regular schedule under a temporary operating permit. Nevertheless, the threat of final confiscation persists. This outcome depends on whether investigators prove direct links between the smuggling and high-ranking crew members.
Media reports, including the Wall Street Journal, name JP Morgan Global Maritime as the actual owner. The company recently bought the vessel from SinOceanic Shipping and currently leases it to MSC. Conversely, the Equasis database lists MSC as the Ship and Commercial Manager. It also names Meridian 7 Ltd as the Registered Owner under MSC’s direct care.
The prosecutor’s agreement excludes JP Morgan due to its purely financial role. Instead, the terms force MSC and Meridian 7 to cover all insurance and maintenance costs. Furthermore, if a US court orders a final confiscation, the companies must return the vessel to a US port within 90 days.
Court reconstructions from the Philadelphia Inquirer reveal that six crew members from Eastern Europe and Samoa participated in the smuggling. Two of them already pled guilty. They admitted that 14 small boats transferred the cocaine to the MSC Gayane while the ship sailed between Panama and Peru.
MSC avoided direct comments regarding the forfeiture proceedings. However, in a formal advisory to its clients, the ocean carrier stated it is cooperating fully with US authorities. The company also clarified that it is not a target of the investigation.
Meanwhile, the CBP temporarily suspended MSC’s Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certification. This move strips the ocean carrier of its “low-risk” status. Consequently, US customs will significantly increase freight inspections on all MSC shipments in the coming weeks.
