By Wendy Anders

A container ship that arrived from Colombia last weekend and docked at the Limón, Costa Rica port of Moín was found to have 250 kilos of cocaine stashed in a chest strapped to the outside of the vessel, reported the Public Security Ministry early this week.

Divers with the anti-drug police unit had to search around the exterior of the ship to determine the location of the hidden narcotics.

A metal hollow chest-like structure which was attached to the vessel was removed and searched, reported police.

The search conducted by Coast Guard, border police and anti-drug police lasted all night Sunday, reported the Security Ministry.

Police said that the shipping company cooperated with the seizure of the chest, and that no arrests were made. The company apparently had no knowledge of the chest or its contents, said the Security Ministry press office.