Almost One Ton of Cocaine Found in Frozen Sharks

The Mexican Navy said Wednesday that a container ship found carrying cocaine-filled frozen sharks contained almost a ton of the drug, and had set off for Mexico from Costa Rica.

"Mexican Navy officers stand guard by a container full of frozen sharks packed with more than a ton of cocaine in Puerto Progreso, Yucatan state, on June 16, 2009. The shipment was discovered off the eastern state of Yucatan on board the 12-metre, Marshall Islands-flagged Dover Strait, which had departed from Houston, Texas, the Navy said late Tuesday."

The navy initially said that the shipment, which was discovered off the southeastern Yucatan state on board the Marshall Islands-flagged Dover Strait, had left from a port in Houston, Texas.

After sailors cut open the frozen sharks, a total of 893 kilos of cocaine was found inside them, a navy statement said Wednesday.

The cargo had left from Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, and was destined for Tonala, in central Mexico, said navy commander Eduardo Villa Valenzuela.

An X-ray test during a routine check on the ship's containers revealed the drugs stuffed inside some 30 frozen sharks, La Reforma newspaper reported.

Mexican soldiers have previously found drugs hidden inside shoes, picture frames and people.

President Felipe Calderon has deployed more than 36,000 troops and police in a crackdown on the country's powerful and well-armed drug smuggling cartels.

More than 10,000 people have died in Mexico in suspected drug violence since Calderon launched the crackdown two and a half years ago.