SOFIA, Bulgaria — Bulgarian customs officials on Sunday found about 190 kilograms (420 pounds) of cocaine hidden on a ship at the Black Sea port of Burgas.

The cargo vessel from Peru had a crew of 11 and was carrying copper concentrate for processing in a plant, the state-run news agency BTA reported.

According to police, the cocaine seizure was valued at $7 million. The drugs were scattered in various places along the vessel's pipelines, police said.

An investigation was launched into the intended recipients of the cocaine, who could face up to 20 years in jail if convicted on drug trafficking charges.

Bulgaria, which has recently intensified a crackdown on drug trafficking, is considered a transit point for cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe.

Police are only addressing the supply, but demand is what fuels the illicit sex trade, experts say. Newsday political reporter Bahar Ostadan has the story. Credit: Newsday Staff

'If you don't address demand, you don't address the problem' Police are only addressing the supply, but demand is what fuels the illicit sex trade, experts say. Newsday political reporter Bahar Ostadan has the story.

Police are only addressing the supply, but demand is what fuels the illicit sex trade, experts say. Newsday political reporter Bahar Ostadan has the story. Credit: Newsday Staff

'If you don't address demand, you don't address the problem' Police are only addressing the supply, but demand is what fuels the illicit sex trade, experts say. Newsday political reporter Bahar Ostadan has the story.

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