Georgian skipper detained after 2.4tonnes of cocaine found on ship under Moldova flag in France (VIDEO)

The family of a Georgian skipper operating a cargo ship under a Moldova flag claiming his innocence after more than two tonnes of cocaine was found hidden on the ship.

Skipper Vazha Beridze, 56, was detained by French coast guards this week after the ship he was operating, general cargo vessel Carib Palm, was intercepted and found to be smuggling 2.4 tonnes of cocaine. The ship was en route from Venezuela to Poland.

It was a record drugs seizure for French police worth about €500 million.  The Georgian captain refuses to reveal any details with Georgia’s representation in France. 

Family members of the Georgian captain addressed Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist the man, who was detained last week after police officials searched the ship and discovered the drugs. He was the only Georgian citizen among the 13 crew members on board the ship, named Carib Palm. They are all currently detained in the French city of Lille.

Beridze’s son Giorgi Beridze claimed his father was not involved and "had no information” about the drug, which had a street value of about €500 million, claimed France’s Finance Ministry.

G. Beridze claimed his father had negotiated with a Turkish company to sail a newly-purchased ship from the Dominican Republic to Turkey. 

But when my father reached [the Dominican Republic] he phoned me and told me the plan had changed and that there was some other ship which needed to be fixed and that ship should be moved to Poland,” said the son.

G. Beridze said the ship Carib Palm was owned by a Turkish citizen and the crew on board consisted of his father (as captain), one Turkish citizen and 11 Ukrainian citizens.

My father had no information concerning drugs. When I phone the owner of the ship, he switches off his phone,” G. Beridze said. 

French media reported the ship had been loaded off  Venezuela before travelling towards Gdansk, Poland. 

Watch the video below.

Carib Palm was intercepted when it was sailing in French waters near Lille. Photo by www.lavoixdunord.fr. 

In a statement, France’s Finance Ministry said "the drugs were concealed behind a metal partition”. Minister Michel Sapin described the drugs as "the largest seizure of cocaine” ever in mainland France and was valued at €500 million.

French online media www.lavoixdunord.fr said the Carib Palm was intercepted when it was sailing in French waters near Lille that was "not indicated in the ship’s plan”. 

The Georgian Embassy in France has contacted French authorities to learn more about the situation but "they could gain very little information” as Captain V. Beridze refused to speak.

Georgia’s Ambassador to France Eka Siradze- Delaunay stressed she wanted to talk with V. Beridze but was unable to get any response due to his vehement denial of knowing about or having any involvement in the drug smuggling.

We are trying to get more details,” the Ambassador said. 

International media reported the ship was stopped on December 10. All the crew were initially held by customs but were officially detained five days later, on Tuesday December 15.

In such situations a criminal investigation is opened. The detained can be held in police custody for up to 96 hours before being arrested,” reported www.lavoixdunord.fr. 

The news site also claimed if found guilty of drug smuggling, the offenders could face "life imprisonment”.

This was the first time V. Beridze had captained a ship since he started working on ships in 1993.