Two men received 16-year prison sentences for attempting to retrieve 818 kilograms of cocaine from Danish waters. The Holbæk Court convicted them of trying to collect drugs dumped in the Kattegat sea last March.
A third defendant, aged 61, was acquitted and walked free from the courthouse. The court was divided on his acquittal, with two jurors finding insufficient evidence while one believed he should be convicted.
The 28-year-old convicted man retains his Danish citizenship and will not be deported. His 61-year-old father was the acquitted defendant. The 40-year-old co-defendant also received 16 years and will be expelled from Denmark after serving his sentence.
What went wrong with the cocaine retrieval operation? The men never actually obtained the drugs. Their attempt failed when the cocaine washed ashore in Sejerø Bay, where beach walkers discovered sports bags filled with the narcotics.
During the trial, details emerged about the botched operation. A GPS tracker attached to the cocaine ran out of battery power. The men had to sail to Gilleleje Harbor to refuel their boat during the retrieval attempt.
The cocaine originated from the container ship Cool Explorer, which has been involved in another major drug dumping case. That incident occurred off the coast of Langeland, where 578 kilograms of cocaine were dumped and five men were convicted.
Authorities have not identified who aboard the ship coordinated the drug dumping. The earlier Langeland case is under appeal and will be heard in high court later.
Both convicted men have requested consideration time for a potential appeal. The failed retrieval operation highlights ongoing challenges in combating international drug trafficking through Danish waters.
This case demonstrates how sophisticated drug smuggling operations can unravel through simple logistical failures and civilian vigilance.