Hispania Spirit Back to Normal after Drug Bust

Teekay-owned gas carrier Hispania Spirit has returned to business as usual following the seizure of 211 kilos of cocaine on board by Peruvian authorities earlier this month.

“We can confirm that the gas tanker Hispania Spirit has resumed normal operations following the incident where the crew discovered a stowaway in the Rudder trunk space on September 8,” Teekay’s spokesperson told World Maritime News.

 “The vessel and its crew remained in the vicinity to support the authorities in their investigation.”

The Spanish-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier was seized by the Peruvian authorities while the ship was anchored in the Port of Pisco, Peru, following an inspection by the port authorities that found packages of suspicious origin in close proximity of the vessel’s rudder and a person of Venezuelan nationality that did not belong to the crew.

Following testing of the found substance it was determined it tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride alkaloid.

The found material was seized and made available to the Public Prosecutor, whereas the Venezuelan citizen was arrested.

The LNG carrier was bound for the Mexican port of Manzanillo.

World Maritime News Staff