Canada | United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

“Countering Maritime Crime in the High Seas”

I. History of The Issue and Key Areas of Discussion

Maritime Crime is a notorious and unsolvable issue that has existed for over a millennia. Piracy
in the high seas has occurred since 76 BCE1 but is still very prevalent in today’s society, one of them
being the Somali pirates that have the goal of ransom. Piracy has been happening in the high seas
worldwide and has cost the global economy $7-12 billion2. As a result, the UN has developed different
resolutions in response to the problem, such as but not limited to the authorization of the Security
Council, which provides logistical support, and the seizing of boats, arms and other equipment, along
with Operation Ocean Shields3. Another issue of maritime crime that is as harmful is drug trafficking. In
addition, drug trafficking is also an important issue that affects the nation directly, as victims might suffer
from the negative effects which causes them to make poor decisions as well as conduct risky behaviors.
The UN has established multiple solutions regarding the funding, laboratory support and implementation
of regulations on drug trafficking4. But, in order to prevent the prolonging of the issue, maritime crime
needs to be the utmost priority and more significant solutions are needed.
II. Current Position
As a country surrounded by three great oceans, Canada has put all its undivided attention in
combating maritime crime. Canada recognizes the biggest problems relating to maritime, such as, but not
limited to illicit trafficking, drug smuggling, and piracy. As a member of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO), Canada has recognized the urgency of the problem and is part of NATO’s
Operation Ocean Shield and Canada is one of the top states that contribute to international counter-piracy
operations to help in reducing number of attacks in the Gulf of Aden, Somali piracy, as well as being in
the process of extending their geographical range5. Drugs have been smuggled inside Canada from India
and China, thus, after the incidents, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has been working in
combating the issue, which result in a reduction in the amount of drug trafficking and smuggling6. Canada
also created regulations relating to illicit trafficking that includes but not limited to, laws about possession
and sale, for use in production of trafficking in substance7. Moreover, Canada   believes   drug   trafficking,  
especially   in   the   high   seas,   is   a   national   priority,   seen   through   their   conductions   of   International  
Drug  Conventions “Leading International Convention on The Control of Narcotic Drugs”, which deals
with matters specific to narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, as well as the traffic8. With  the  future  of  
the  ocean  security  at  stake,  Canada  is  willing  to  take  the  necessary  action  and  respond  accordingly.  

 
  

III. Proposed Actions and Resolutions

a). Recommends the monitorization of high-risk places such as but not limited to the high seas
under the guidance of UN bodies.   Since   the   majority   of   high   seas   are   unmonitored,   and   can  
therefore  affect  maritime  crime,  the  monitoring  of  high-­‐risk  places  by  the  United  Nations Special
Rapporteurs, and naval patrols under UNCLOS, in collaboration with UNSC as well as with the
funding of International Maritime Organization’s International Maritime Security Trust (IMST) is
recommended to prevent further cases and attacks of maritime crime, such as illicit drug trafficking
and piracy. These places would be monitored at all times and therefore will deter the acts of maritime
crime
b). Requests the funding of education training in developing countries. The root of maritime piracy is
that there is a chronic unemployment in today’s society. For this reason, raising education to become
the utmost priority in the country will aid in decreasing poverty and therefore the likelihood of piracy.
The collaboration with UN Bodies and Non-Governmental Organizations such as but not limited to
UNESCO will help with funding and will be of assistance in educating many countries, including less
developed countries, which are countries suffering from poverty.
c) Further recommends the rebooting counter-piracy support mission “Operation Ocean Shield”.
NATO has developed a support mission called Operation Ocean Shield in 2008 to protect ships and
strengthen the navies and coast guards in the Horn of Africa, Indian Ocean, Guardafui Channel, Gulf
of Aden, and Arabian Sea. After reducing Somali pirate attacks, It ended in 2016 due to the shifting
of NATO’s mission to deter smugglers. But, in order to maintain the peace in high seas, there needs
to be a unified support mission focusing solely on eradicating maritime piracy. In rebooting
Operation Ocean Shield, while also recommending the extension of their area of operation, such as,
but not limited to, the Gulf of Guinea, Singapore Strait, and Java Sea, there will be a unified
movement in deterring piracy.
                                                                                                               
1    Elleman,  Bruce  A.  “Piracy  and  Maritime  Crime”.  Naval  War  College  Newport  Papers.  2010.  
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a518439.pdf
2
Amini,  Marini.  “Pirates  are  Making  a  Comeback  on  the  High  Seas”.  CNBC.  2017.  
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/02/pirates-­‐are-­‐making-­‐a-­‐comeback-­‐on-­‐the-­‐high-­‐seas-­‐and-­‐have-­‐africa-­‐and-­‐asia-­‐in-­‐
their-­‐sights.html.
3    United  Nations.  “Fight  Piracy  off  Coast  of  Somalia”.  UN.  2017.  https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sc13058.doc.htm
4  UNODC.  “Drug-­‐related  Resolution”.  2018.  
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CND/Resolutions_Decisions/Resolutions-­‐Decisions_2010-­‐2019.html.
5
Bridger,  James  M.  “Somali  Piracy  and  the  World’s  Response”.  NATO  Association  of  Canada.  2018.  
http://natoassociation.ca/somali-­‐piracy-­‐and-­‐the-­‐worlds-­‐response/.
6
Government  of  Canada.  “Government  of  Canada  Actions  on  Opioids”.  2017.  https://www.canada.ca/en/health-­‐
canada/services/publications/healthy-­‐living/actions-­‐opioids-­‐2016-­‐2017.html.
7
Justice  Laws  of  Canada.  “Controlled  Drugs  and  Substances  Act”.  2018.  https://laws-­‐lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-­‐
38.8/page-­‐3.html.
8
Riley,  Diane.  “Drugs  and  Drug  Policy  in  Canada”.  Canadian  Foundation  for  Drug  Policy.  2018.  
https://sencanada.ca/content/sen/committee/362/ille/rep/rep-­‐nov98-­‐e.htm.