Drug traffickers play a game of hide and seek at Sea

In light of recent drug trafficking incidents affecting the industry, we examined the various methods that drug traffickers have used to conceal narcotics on ships over the years. Recognising the continuous evolution of these techniques, it is important to share the tactics criminals use with our teams and partners. 

As commercial air travel decreased and land border controls increased in 2020 due to COVID-19, illicit drug trafficking on maritime and waterway routes accelerated in Europe, Latin America, North Africa, and South-East Asia.

It has been widely reported how drug traffickers get creative with hiding drugs onboard vessels. Maritime Cyprus provided the illustration below. 

Image credit: Maritime Cyprus

Rival organised crime groups engage in significant and often deadly competition at all stages of class-A drug production and supply. Corruption is rampant throughout the drug supply chain, with corrupt port and airport officials contributing to the problem.

Recent incidents:

• 7 November 2023 - 318 kilos of cocaine hidden in containers loaded with Guatemalan marshmallows were found on board container ship KOTA PUSAKA in Hong Kong. Three individuals, including one local and two Latin American nationals, were arrested for following the drug shipment from Latin America to Asia. Initially mistaken as stowaways, they were later identified as drug traffickers. The cocaine was intended for Jordan, not Hong Kong. The crew were cleared of suspicion, allowing the ship to continue its scheduled trip. This incident highlights the dangers of drug trafficking on container ships, particularly with South American nationals sneaking on board as stowaways.

• 14 November 2023 - On November 14th, Turkish authorities announced a recent drug seizure on board the Capesize (larger dry bulk carrier) BERGE TORRE, which was docked at the Iskenderun coal terminal in the Gulf of Alexandretta, eastern Mediterranean. A total of 52 kilograms of cocaine were discovered, wrapped in 45 packages and concealed in two durable plastic bags that were found in the chain locker, hidden within the anchor chain. The vessel had arrived from Colombia on November 12th. As is customary in Turkey, all crew members, including the captain, have been detained, and an investigation is currently underway.

• 15 November 2023 - Five (5) suspects have been arrested for drug trafficking, contravention of the Civil Aviation Act and contravention of the Customs and Excise Act in a coordinated operation spearheaded by the Hawks at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA).  Following the recent drug seizure in Australia and the arrest of two suspects, the South African Police Service (SAPS) announced that they have conducted an intelligence-driven operation targeting employees of various companies at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA). Two suspects from ACSA, two from Menzies Aviation, and one from Swissport have been arrested for their alleged involvement in facilitating drug trafficking at the airport. This operation marks the first of its kind in relation to transnational drug trafficking through ORTIA. Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, praised the joint investigation team for their efforts to combat drug trafficking and warned corrupt officials against engaging in illicit activities.

Despite the continuous efforts of organizations like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and EUROPOL (The Security Steering Committee of the ports of Antwerp, Hamburg/Bremerhaven and Rotterdam), among others, the global problem of illicit drug transportation persists.

The discovery of illegal drugs on a vessel (sea and air) can result in detention, fines for owners or operators, and even confiscation of the vessel. This can cause significant delays and inconvenience for clients, as seen in the recent incident in Turkey. 

https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2023.htmlhttps://www.identecsolutions.com/news/container-terminal-safety-the-challenge-called-drug-trafficking

https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/Europol_Joint-report_Criminal%20networks%20in%20EU%20ports_Public_version.pdf

https://insightcrime.org/news/hide-and-seek-drug-traffickers-creative-at-sea/

https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/

https://safety4sea.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Shipowners-Club-Drugs-and-Alcohol-at-Sea-2018_10.pdf

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/border-security/five-suspects-arrested-for-drug-trafficking-including-acsa-employees/