RISE IN DRUG SMUGGLER THREATS TO CREW

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Jakob Paaske
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Rise in drug smuggler threats to crew

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Published: 22 March 2023 GENERAL
Cocaine production in Colombia has exploded and drug cartels continue to target INFORMATION
and abuse innocent seafarers and their ships for nefarious activities. The drug
cartels have become more prone to resort to violence to expand and protect their › Dry Bulk Cargoes Code – IMO
criminal enterprises. adopts the next set of
Amendments
27 November 2023
Colombia cocaine production reaches all-time high
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Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine producer. When the former guerrilla
27 November 2023
President Petro stopped coca eradication and law enforcement operations in ELN
and FARC-controlled coca growing regions, cultivation in Colombia skyrocketed by › Dangerous Goods Code for
a massive 43% in late 2021/2022. This trend is expected to continue during the Packaged Goods – Latest
next few years. amendments enter into force
on 1 January 2024
The conservative estimate is that there will be at least a 35% increase in the 21 November 2023
volume of cocaine available for shipment in 2023. An indicator of this production
boom is reflected in the price per kilo of cocaine in coca growing areas, which is
now one third of the price in comparison to 2021.

This trend is exacerbated by the the cocaine production processes becoming more
efficient and resulting in cocaine of higher quality.

The majority of the cultivation, refining, storage, security, and internal transport is
still controlled by the ex-FARC guerrillas and the ELN, as well key criminal
organizations, such as the Gulf Cartel.
In a corrupted world, ships are perfect “mules”
Ships are plying the oceans between continents carry huge quantities of cargo in
relatively predictable patterns. Also a ship has numerous compartments and
sections some of which are inaccessible. In other words for a smuggler, a ship is, a
perfect platform for transportation of contraband drugs. However, it would not be
possible to smuggle such large quantities of drugs onboard ships if the level of
corruption had not been so high among law enforcement officials, dock workers,
private security guards, and on rare occasions even members of a ship’s crew.

Corruption thrives because of the large sums of money involved in drug smuggling.
It arises out of sheer greed or when the criminal networks resort to violence or
threats to coerce otherwise innocent people to become actively involved in
smuggling even if it is just to turn a blind eye. Lately, the Mexican drug cartels
appear to be playing an increasing role in organising drug smuggling out of several
countries in South- and Central America. This has exacerbated the level of coercion
as the Mexican cartels are renowned for their brutality. Sadly, kidnappings, cutting
off limbs, beheadings and similar atrocities have become more widespread. They
typically occur in two instances: 1) when a person is in a position to disrupt a
smuggling operation (for example a key law enforcement officer or port official)
and is unsusceptible to corruption; or 2) failure to deliver as promised, for example
theft or confiscation of drugs or money in their possession.

The sheer level of brutality displayed by the criminal networks serves as a further
incentive to allow the smuggling operation to continue without interference.

Transhipment increasingly used

In the past smugglers often selected ships bound for the desired port of discharge.
However, in recent months, it has become clear that transhipment ports are used
more and more. This is perhaps an effort to avoid interception by law enforcement.
The increased use of transhipment poses a threat to ships traditionally not
regarded as high risk, and some locations have proven more popular transhipment
points than others. Ecuador has become the primary location in South America for
cocaine shipped directly to Europe even though no drugs are grown in Ecuador.
The vast majority of cocaine shipped from Ecuador is cultivated and refined in
southern Colombia and transported across land/water borders into Ecuador. In
2022, 60% of the cocaine seized in Antwerp was shipped from Ecuador.

Brazil has also emerged as a major load point with ports such as Santos, Natal,
Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza, Vitoria, Sao Sebastião, Itajai, Rio Grande, and Paranagua
being hotspots. Drugs destined for Europe are loaded here and routed via
transhipment ports in for example Senegal, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Ivory
Coast, South Africa, Morocco, Cape Verde, Turkey, and Panama.
With the change in smuggling patterns and the increased use of non-Colombian
load ports and transhipment points, shipowners need to be even more vigilant to
manage the threat posed by drug smugglers and their ever changing modi
operandi.

Legal risks
Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela, and Turkey are among the countries, where
repercussions to crew and shipowner can be serious if drugs are found onboard,
regardless of whether the crew or shipowner are directly involved. There are many
examples of members of crew being held in custody for several months without
any charges being made. The detention and seizure of the ship for prolonged
periods is also common. Before calling at ports in such countries, extra preventive
measures should be taken, and a thorough drug search should be carried out
before departure. Information about the preventive measures undertaken should
be recorded in the ship’s log book.

Narco pirates threaten crews

Over time, smugglers have become more brazen in their modus operandum and
more prone to resort to violence. A recent case involved smugglers operating from
small skiffs boarding the ship while underway. When the ship’s crew raised the
alarm, the smugglers opened fire with automatic weapons against the ship’s crew.
Once ship’s crew have been suppressed the smugglers have carried on with their
business of concealing the drugs on board, typically in containers. In addition to
the contraband drugs, the smugglers carry a full set of tools to break in, together
with fake container seals to allow for the containers to be re-sealed. Such cases
have also occurred while ships were alongside during cargo operations.

The increased levels of violence constitute a serious threat to seafarers, and

caution is urged when detecting suspected smuggling activities. It is advised to
keep a distance, raise the alarm on board, and alert shore authorities.

Contracted security teams

The use of local security guards to protect the ship against the drug smuggling
threat is a solution which can be considered but is not always effective especially in
ports where the threat is high. In places where drug production and smuggling are
widespread, the illegal economy associated with these activities is significant. The
presence in society of vast sums of money generated from illegal activities makes
the countering of such illegal activities very risky . It is therefore not uncommon
that security guards from high-threat areas tend to turn a blind eye or even be
actively involved in helping smugglers place drugs on board. When contemplating
the employment of private security guards, it is therefore a valid consideration
whether to use local teams, or teams based outside the immediate influence of
the criminal groups.

Thanks to Phoenix Group, Panama, and P&I Services Mexico for providing data to
support this news piece.