Under the cruise contract you sign to get onboard a ship, cruise lines have the right to search your room, throw you off the ship and turn you over to local authorities for any violations. by The third accomplice in the infamous "Cocaine Babe" cruise ship drug smuggling ring has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for his part in trafficking 207 pounds of cocaine aboard a . Cocktails, ditto. Sorry this happened to you. A Canadian woman who documented her round-the-world cruise on Instagram admitted she tried to smuggle about $30 million worth of cocaine into Australia with the help of her porn star friend and another person. In 2011, Steven Krumholz was arrested on an Atlantis cruise for possessing methamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine and over $50,000 in cash. Please leave one below or join the discussion on our Facebook page. CNN A cruise ship's security services discovered 69.5 pounds of cocaine on board the vessel last week and turned over the haul to US Customs and Border Protection officers upon docking at a. Our state room attendant was a wonderful woman with a long career with Royal Caribbean. Release Date. Archive - Hi, I'm Jenni. This story has been shared 159,956 times. Roger and Sue Clarke, both 72, were caught last year while attempting to smuggle 9kg . The people who sell on those port calls are the narcs. I was in the shower and my partnerwas not dressed. :eek http://www.cruisejunkie.com/events2009.html. If a guest is in possession of a drug that is illegal under US law, the ship's security team is required to detain them and - at best - disembark you and all your stuff at the next port, no refund and you're responsible to make your own way home. Have a comment? Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Our room attendant told us it happens just about every week. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. The other woman was also older, very large, and was wearing a dress which revealed swollen feet and legs. After a drawn-out debate, and with strict rules in place, the Alaska Marijuana Control Board in August 2021 approved two venues for on-site consumption. Did you hang out with them on the cruise? I could of been smuggling pounds of drugs but she had absolutely no interest in me. Leave your bong home dude and maybe you'll remember what happened on the cruise. I remember thinking that if the dog actually sniffedsomething out they would know what and where. Customs and Border Protection officers seized bricks of cocaine weighing 69.5 pounds on a cruise ship last week, the agency said. Recently, cruise lines have begun testing the use of sniffer dogs that are trained to detect passengers with COVID-19. The criminal aspects of the drug smuggling attempt would be subject to the laws and jurisdiction of the country where the drugs were discovered, where the vessel and the drugs are located. Taking a cruise next month and preparing..I get so paranoid about this. 2 Canadian Women Accused of Smuggling $22 Million in Cocaine into Australia on Cruise Ship Over 200 pounds were seized by Australian Border Protection. It would be an interesting retrospective to read these again now as seasoned adults. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. We each got called in a couple of times to answer questions because they said thedog got a hit in the room. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers seized 69.5 Pounds (31.5 Kilos) of cocaine discovered by the security services of a cruise ship, who handed over the contraband last week upon docking into Port Everglades. [Source]. and our By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Sailing ship BAE Guayas caught the low-profile . The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. The Chesapeake Today newspaper reports that the men were planning to cruise aboard Royal Caribbeans Allure of the Seas which had been chartered to Atlantis Events for its annual gay cruise to the Caribbean. For the intent of the law you only need be within 100 miles of the border. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Her service was impeccable. Such responses can help many people in the future (not just the people who cruise on one particular ship). Published After 28 cruises this was something new! If you did nothing wrong than you have no reason at all to feel humiliated. CBP says it seized about 3,677 pounds of drugs in a typical day in 2020. At the Cannabis Corner in the fishing town of Ketchikan, a small lounge is outfitted with couches, a fireplace and activities such as adult coloring books. In Florida we were waiting in baggage claim for a bag that did not arrive when a cute little beagle with his tail wagging ran up to me. Discovery Company. You'll become converts. Other Atlantis Events cruise parties have been marred by drug overdoses and deaths over the years. Just put them in your hand luggage and be sure to bring a copy of your prescription with you. smuggling drugs on cruise ships forum. Has anyone cruised recently, post Covid, that would know the security around weed. Its important to know the cruise ship rules because violations come with stiff penalties as several cruise passengers have learned in recent years. A British couple could spend 12 years behind bars after Portuguese cops said they caught them smuggling 20 pounds of cocaine into Europe on a cruise ship. Smuggling drugs on cruise ships is big business. Think long and hard about it. You cant bring pot or edibles onto a cruise ship. Before they were busted with 200 pounds of blow, they instagrammed their lavish drug smuggling cruise. We've received your submission. Over 1.7 million cruise ship passengers visited the USVI in 2000. I wondered if they say that to everyone to try to get them to crack. All rights reserved. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night, My first cruise to the Galapagos: The good, the bad and the absolutely adorable. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Powered by Invision Community. The economy is bad, but hopefully not THIS bad. Does that mean you cant smoke marijuana on your cruise vacation? MacAbre (vulture). Most foreign-produced illicit drugs available in the United States are smuggled into the country overland across the borders with Mexico and, to a much lesser extent, Canada (see Table 1). Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. All Rights Reserved. An alleged drug smuggling operation onboard a cruise ship was dismantled this week after police found a stash of cocaine hidden in bowls and chip bags. CBP officers secured the bricks of. Last month the CDC issued updated guidelines, allowing cruise ship operators to begin simulated voyages with volunteer passengers. Why would you smuggle alcohol onto a cruise ship? Lunar New Year sparks China travel chaos 01:02 CNN One of the two Canadian women who documented a lavish cruise trip to Australia on Instagram as a front for smuggling cocaine has been. With airline baggage limits what they are today, people started noticing she kept wearing the exact same dress throughout the whole cruise. The CBPs Advanced Tactical Cargo Enforcement Team performed a thorough inspection of the ship and did not find any other contraband, the agency said. Thoughts and prayers for those in the path of Katarina. TPG values it at $1,600. Two women in their sixties, who were chosen as "drug mules" because they were less likely to arouse the suspicion of authorities, were arrested as they prepared to disembark from a cruise ship when it docked in the port of Cadiz, south-western Spain. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, http://www.cruisejunkie.com/events2009.html, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. 04-16-2013, 03:33 PM goldengrain . Planning a cruise? Did they actually accuse you of hiding something, or did they say they wanted to ask further questions--i.e., suspect there might be something hidden because the dog alerted? I understand at the border you have to present yourself up to scrutiny,but this was a raid in my room that I paid for. The U.S. Consulate is required to be notified of your international arrest and/or your conviction. The containership which was built in 2020 Copyright 2023 The Maritime Executive, LLC. At many ports, the luggage is also checked by a sniffer dog who may be trained to detect drugs and explosives. This type of search can occur in any port during the cruise. They ended up under cabin confinement with a security officer standing guard round the clock outside their door. One woman was quite elderly and frail and did not appear to be very alert. If the metal detector beeps, you may either be scanned again with a hand-held metal detector or patted down by hand. Two Women Busted For $30 Million In Cocaine Also Took Some Great Instagram Pics. Food, so much food. When the ship arrived in Port Everglades, Florida, the crew turned over the narcotics last week. Elderly women smuggle drugs as "mules" on cruise ship. The continent has been viewed as one of the strongest growth opportunities for shipping companies with each of the majors making significant investments in the region during 2022. According to a nine-page indictment made public on Tuesday, and viewed by The Sun, Roger and Susan Clarke, 72 and 71, were charged with drug smuggling in connection to their December 4 arrest. Eight American cruise ship passengers were taken in to custody after they allegedly tried to leave Jamaica with US$850,000 worth of cocaine. On June 6, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confiscated 32 kilograms of cocaine uncovered by security agents aboard a nameless cruise liner. It's so common that the cruise lines explicitly state rules and consequences about bringing drinks on board with you. There were reportedly a half-dozen drug overdoses during the cruise. Or maybe it only happens on the Allure. He handles a wide variety of cases from serious injuries to thehighest profile sexual assault and cruise crime cases. That's right Rev. I want to know when "two women in their sixties" became synonymous with "Elderly?" At all our parties and events youll find a team of dedicated medical professionals here to assist with absolutely anything. Seizures of cocaine aboard commercial ships and private vessels world-wide more than tripled over the past three years, to 73.2 metric tons in 2019 from 22.4 metric tons in 2017, according to . The classic method is to empty a bottle of, say, wintergreen mouthwash, sterilize the bottle with boiling water, and let it dry. Whoever it was, was covering the peep hole so we couldnt see. Dang, to be called Elderly and a Mule in the same sentence? Just so you know they showed us no paperwork what so ever. It could have been random that we were in the chosen half. I know, I know.it sounds like a plot for a TV movie, but I spend a lot of time watching "Law and Order." . Although it was quite disturbing to us on the day it happened. By The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Cruise ship passengers arent routinely patted down when boarding a cruise ship, although you will be asked to walk through a metal detector. We also do not need to go through airport security, we just want to know how to get it aboard the ship. At least I have a great story to tell now! Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. Powered by Invision Community. Did you encounter any technical issues? You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. You don't know how much I appreciate your post! The Maritime Executive. It was turn around day in Miami. If you or anybody around you needs assistance or might need medical care, please simply ask them. I am still wondering how anyone could expect to hide over 50 pounds of cocaine in a cabin! Cookie Notice I am not asking about crack or something. Melina Roberge, 24, of Quebec, who pleaded guilty in Sydney court Friday, could face life in the slammer for the offense, the Toronto Star reported. The pair face up to 12 years in prison if convicted of drugs . Hide and Seek: How Drug Traffickers Get Creative at Sea. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is moving to expand its service to Africa. Check out this humorous YouTube video (it has more . Mar 3, 2023 6:46 PM by Most people dont realize how different being at sea is and how the combination of motion, sun, and late hours can sneak up on you. The Maritime Executive. Hmmmm, I am picturing you walking with a cane, smuggling cocaine. Gainfully perhaps isn't the best word to use. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Contact Us - Reports are that the eight people disembarked the . It doesnt matter that medical marijuana is allowed in Florida, nor that you have a marijuana medical card. The haul could be worth upwards of $5 million based on the drug's street price. But the product was limited to use in private, leaving cruisers out of the picture. We were allowed to put on robes and we waited barefoot, under guard in the hallway (on display to the other passengers walking by) while 4 of the officers and the dog ripped our room apart. They said it was random. She also admitted smuggling in the drugs, saying shed been given an ultimatum by an unnamed person to clear a $20,000 debt. It just seemed wrong to me to be raided, accused of hiding something in the room and our dignity taking a hit without direct cause or any paperwork. I read once how a drug agent was able to target certain persons for more thorough checks upon arrival. Privacy Statement - Many lines are targeting midsummer to resume cruising in US waters, provided they can meet CDC requirements. As alaw-abiding citizens andworld traveler , I just didnt feel the freedom. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! That being said, we've never attempted to bring anything with us on a cruise for the sheer fact that if we were caught, that's drug trafficking and we'd be fucked. Your Email Once in the submarine, we found 200 sacks that contained 4,000 rectangular packages of cocaine.". It is the second year in a row that law enforcement personnelhave made large numbers of drug-related arrests before Holy Ship! Published $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Due to the high cost of drinks on cruise ships, a lot of people try to speak alcohol on board. All I had was prescriptionsso there was nothing of course. I was in my room on the ship. Rough! Dylan DeFrancisci, port director of field operations for Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale, praised the operation that discovered of the cocaine. "Forget about your right to privacy, you are passing through a port where all local and federal laws apply and are strictly enforced," the organizer's site cautioned. "Every person and each piece of luggage will be inspected by dogs trained to detect explosives and contraband.". If they were accusing you, I would have expected a vigorous re-search of the specific spaces where the dog alerted. And the drugs that are intercepted are most times not discovered by dogs. I got excited to see the dog and started talking to him, and it took a few seconds before I realized that he was a drug dog and was sniffing my suitcase! We opened the door and It was a customs search team. At the beginning of this week, MSC kicked off its expanded service into Central Africa with the arrival of MSC Virgo (157,000 dwt) at the Port of Pointe-Noire in the Republic of Congo. If they can take stuff out of our bags, they can also put something in. Enjoy yourselves, but remember to take breaks to eat, sleep, and of course hydrate! As to the legalities, I understand it is their ship, they get to do what they want, no paperwork required. I took weed on one of 3 cruises and was dreading it, dreaming up all kinds of horrific scenarios. I fail to see any reason why she would lie to us about that. Smuggling drugs on cruise ships forum smuggling drugs on cruise . I haven't been on the Allure in a few years. So what happens if you forget marijuana is illegal on your cruise ship and get caught? Thanks -- I often go to cruisejunkie -- missed that one. Wish we could stop the use of drugs and then it wouldn't be such a lucrative business for these scum bags of the world. Here's Walt's "Lines upon a tranquil brow". Unnamed (but picture looks like Melody, MSC Cruises) The Telegraph reports Spanish police have smashed a drug trafficking ring that used pensioners to smuggle cocaine into Europe on luxury trans-Atlantic cruise ships. Then fill it with alcohol and dye the liquid with green or blue food coloring. Illegal drugs or substances will be confiscated and appropriate action taken,which may include removal from the ship and involvement of appropriate authorities. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. On February 3rd, 2109, while doing a back to back on Allure. A British couple have been jailed for eight years by a Portuguese court for drug smuggling on a cruise ship. When authorities raided the ship upon its arrival at Packer Marine Terminal in Philadelphia on June 17, 2019, they found 20 tons of cocaine aboard. A Warner Bros. Get caught smuggling drugs, weapons or other illegal items onto the ship, and your glamorous cruise vacation could turn into a drawn-out stay at a local police station -- and let's just say. Please leave this field empty. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. When I hear the word "elderly," women -- or men -- in their sixties do NOT come to mind. Cruise ships visit some states where private use of cannabis is legal including Alaska, California, Washington, Maine, Massachusetts and New York. Cookie Policy - Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. It depends on where you are cruising. This was all unnecessary as my bag just went through the x-ray with zero concern. you guys remind me why I enjoy cruise critic so much. Drug transporters exploit the cruise ship industry to transport drugs into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI. We all know people smuggle drugs all the time, by air, sea and land. February 5, 2019 Update: NBC News covered the drug bust. Among their duties may be to sniff out drugs in carry-on baggage. What I did not think of at the time, but considered later, is that both of them had able-bodied companions.and I guess it would be possible to stow drugs or almost anything illegal on people in wheelchairs, or with bandages, or casts, etc., and they might not even know it. Jim Walker graduated from law school in 1983 and has been handling maritime law cases for the past thirty-five years. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Aug 29th, 2002, 06:46 AM. Smaller ports are less likely to use sniffer dogs. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Cocaine smuggling: The bizarre tactics used to hide drugs 16 July 2019 Polica Nacional on Twitter @policia A Colombian man was caught with cocaine under his wig at the Josep Tarradellas. Cruise Line Policies About Smuggling Alcohol It's not unusual that passengers will sneak alcohol aboard a cruise. In addition, foreign governments at Norwegian Cruise Line ports of call have strict laws that address drug possession. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. It was a helpless feeling to be honest. You do now have quite a story about your cruise adventures! We just applied for trusted traveler status for DW and the literature makes it clear that the status does not preclude searches or other security measures including random ones. Cruise officials alerted CBP officers assigned to Port Everglades seaport that a vessel inspection had found garbage bags with brick-shaped packages in a void space of the ship. I was in the shower and my partnerwas not dressed. Its also illegal to light up in any U.S. national park and for much of your cruise in the Inside Passage in Southeast Alaska you are in national parkland. Dubbed the Cocaine Babe, Lagace had documented her global journey on the cruise which made stops across the US, South America and the Pacific with dozens of bikini-clad Instagram posts of her and Roberge. All of our neighbours think were druglords! Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Drug subs are stealth vessels favored by smugglers to discreetly move tons of cocaine, marijuana . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cruise ship accidents, injuries, crimes, disappearances, fires, and collisionson the high seas involve issues of maritime law. Started June 21, 2021, By If you think you can cheat the system, consider that among possible charges for bringing marijuana into international waters is drug trafficking. cruise have posted advice on social media forums about the best ways to smuggle banned substances onto the ship, including. JCSJCML Contributor Level: Captain Posted: 5 years ago | 3228 Views Cruise ships and smuggling drugs Just read this article about a large group on trial for drug smuggling on cruise ships. The Maritime Executive. The UKs leading ports group, Associated British Ports (ABP), has unveiled an ambitious $2.4 billion green growth and sustainability plan that is designed to decarbonize operations by 2040.