Eight New York dock workers charged in trafficking probe

US authorities said the East Coast’s largest shipping port experienced a security breach as eight dock workers were charged in New York with cocaine trafficking and another was charged in a stock fraud scheme.

Authorities said the arrests of dockers from the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal in Elizabeth, New Jersey, were part of a prosecution that resulted in 22 arrests.

Other arrests were made earlier.

US Attorney Preet Bharara said an investigation revealed a security flaw at one of the world’s most important hubs for commerce and trade.

He said dockers made up to $100,000 (€72,000) for offloading just one duffel bag of cocaine within a secure area only employees could access.

He warns: “We can’t afford to have a port that is porous.”

Authorities said they seized cocaine worth more than $34m (€24m).