Rostock court hears cocaine smuggling confession via sailing yacht

A 59-year-old man has confessed before the Rostock District Court to smuggling approximately 264 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Europe aboard a sailing yacht named ‘Target’. The defendant stated that the operation was intended to pay off significant debts to a criminal network.

The journey began on July 4, 2025, departing from Cartagena, Colombia. The drugs, valued at nearly 16 million euros, were reportedly packed in waterproof bags and hidden in various locations on the vessel, including under a cabin bed. The yacht was intercepted by Portuguese authorities near the Azores on August 8, 2025.

The defendant’s 67-year-old wife is also facing charges, though the man testified that she had no knowledge of the illegal cargo. He noted that the yacht had been purchased for 200,000 euros using funds from the sale of his late father’s house. The defendant also revealed that this was not his first attempt at such a voyage, having previously discarded drugs overboard during a failed trip in 2024 to avoid detection.