They are already there and who else can they check? ", Published The Maritime Executive. And if the drug sniffers find anything, the unaware passengers are the ones who are going to get the heat. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. They were removed at the next port and turned over to authorities. Sorry this happened to you. Smoking of marijuana is a big flag on ships. Clearly it can be done. It is a legit question. All rights reserved. Plenty of people get high. May 30, 2007. from California, U.S.A. Nik has been a cruise ships , he isnt worried at all about dogs. Mar 3, 2023 7:55 PM by The Maritime Executive, Published Two Women Busted For $30 Million In Cocaine Also Took Some Great Instagram Pics. How can you call it random when half the back to back cruisers were raided? We were travelling with another couple and they did not get raided. We are from Canada so I do not know the legalities. Expect to be detained and interviewed by Customs and Border Control when you . Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. February 5, 2019 Update: NBC News covered the drug bust. F or many people, a big Caribbean cruise means a multi-day party on the open seas. It was turn around day in Miami. Smuggling drugs on cruise ships is big business. As alaw-abiding citizens andworld traveler , I just didnt feel the freedom. Agree, the US drug habit ruins far more than our own country and the amount of money generated is a blank check for corruption at all levels. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Started August 27, 2021, By Cruise ship security teams are mostly searching for alcohol and weapons. 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. This story has been shared 159,956 times. "Every person and each piece of luggage will be inspected by dogs trained to detect explosives and contraband.". Our officers strive daily developing and enhancing our partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, industry partners and the citizens of our community to stop criminal activity at our borders, be it land, air or sea.. We have no criminal records. Prior to this year's cruises, organizers posted an advisory warning aboutthe strict security measures in force at the terminal. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Over 69 pounds of cocaine wrapped in garbage bags were discovered in a cruise ship's cargo space. A Warner Bros. They are here to help and will provide support in a nonjudgmental manner regardless of the situation. Published The local news station reported that after both men arrived at the port, a drug sniffing canine alerted its handler to their luggage which contained MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine, Viagra, Adderall and GHB. That way I can always sit and not worry abot keeling over due to the heat. Eventually they left leaving us a mess. One way to ensure the opportunity to smoke on your cruise vacation is to do a pre- or post-cruise stay at a cannabis-friendly hotel, assuming you are in a port city where pot is legal. Drugs associated withraves (notably MDMA and PMMA) havealso been linked to fatalities, and EDM festivals have occasionally been canceled after drug-related deaths: in 2016, the city of Buenos Aires banned large EDM concerts altogether after five club-goers died of suspected overdoses. If you or anybody around you needs assistance or might need medical care, please simply ask them. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Then fill it with alcohol and dye the liquid with green or blue food coloring. No we did not know the other people. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. passengers from two back-to-back cruises on suspicion of drug possession, including multiple individuals who were accused of intending to sell drugson board. In addition, foreign governments at Norwegian Cruise Line ports of call have strict laws that address drug possession. Started June 21, 2021, By This information allcomes up with a passport check. Well, at least you had a room steward to clean up their mess. I had an elaborate plan to sneak on vodka in a mouthwash bottle by careful removing the safety-seal, using food coloring, and putting the seal back on. Before they were busted with 200 pounds of blow, they instagrammed their lavish drug smuggling cruise. cocaine from a cruise ship. We opened the door and It was a customs search team. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. the worst thing to fear is bringing it on board from where ever You docks. A group of guys getting back on the ship in Ochos Rios got popped with some mushrooms in April. The only thing sadder than the security getting on the ship is US Customs and Border Patrol during disembarkment. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Actually, a better question is if you noticed the dog alerting? For the intent of the law you only need be within 100 miles of the border. The new Virgin Voyages cruise line, for instance, specifies that all illegal drugs, non-prescribed controlled substances, medically prescribed marijuana or synthetic marijuana and CBD products are prohibited. Youll find something similar on every other cruise line website. For those sailing from Los Angeles, the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica has a cannabis concierge as part of an arrangement with Eaze, a leading California cannabis delivery service. US cruises inch closer to resuming as CDC issues trial cruise guidance, This seizure is indicative of the excellent collaboration CBP has with our industry partners to detect and interdict illegal drugs being smuggled into our nation, DeFrancisci said in a statement. Gainfully perhaps isn't the best word to use. But they do have walk-through metal detectors to detect any hidden weapons. I was humiliatedin front of my neighbours on the ship. Taking a cruise next month and preparing..I get so paranoid about this. I like this site because people ask questions that are cruise-related but not always specific to just one ship. If any guest or crew member is caught possessing or taking drugs, they will be sent home at the next port of call. Recently, cruise lines have begun testing the use of sniffer dogs that are trained to detect passengers with COVID-19. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. It was turn around day in Miami. The National Crime Agency (NCA), which. The other woman was also older, very large, and was wearing a dress which revealed swollen feet and legs. My response was what does the doghit on? This type of search can occur in any port during the cruise. Gee, and people think they will get their adrenaline rushes from all the slides and ziplines and things! Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. TPG values it at $1,600. # 1. Jim Walker graduated from law school in 1983 and has been handling maritime law cases for the past thirty-five years. She will NEVER admit to being elderly. All of our neighbours think were druglords! I heard 80 is the new 60. She is the author of several cruise and travel books, including 100 Things To Do In Alaska Before You Die." Ask Jim a Question about Cruise Law Smaller ports are less likely to use sniffer dogs. As I understand it, CBPdoes not need any type of paperwork to search at the border. If you're caught, the consequences could ruin your life. CANBERRA, Australia -- A Canadian woman broke down in tears in an Australian court on Wednesday when she was sentenced to eight years in prison for her part in an attempt to smuggle cocaine worth. Elderly British couple who claim they were tricked into smuggling cocaine on cruise ship spent 18,000 on travel in two years . 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. Smuggling illegal recreational drugs like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, hallucinogens and amphetamines on cruise ships is a serious offence and it is not something that anyone should consider doing. A cruise you will certainly remember. A three-masted training ship interdicted a drug-laden high-speed smuggling vessel off the coast of Colombia on Friday, the Ecuadorian Navy announced. To legally explore the scene you may want to book a marijuana tour where you visit a private weed-growing plantation and sip ganja tea while enjoying ganja cake. 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. I have my share of bad habits, but drugs isn't one of them..so he ran off. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. The use of older people explains why the elderly and wheelchair-bound people are often seen being frisked. Cruise ships visit some states where private use of cannabis is legal including Alaska, California, Washington, Maine, Massachusetts and New York. Has anyone cruised recently, post Covid, that would know the security around weed. RELATED: The ultimate guide to booking cruises to Alaska. Pentagon contractor busted when boarding cruise with his bag of drugs to sell; used government computer for planning peddling pills. Find the right card for you. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and Port Canaveral conducted inspections prior to boarding, using drug-sniffing dogs, luggage searches and other methods to detect illicit substances, resulting in multiple arrests. the US drug habit ruins far more than our own country and the amount of money generated is a blank check for corruption at all levels. But the product was limited to use in private, leaving cruisers out of the picture. Dont even try to bring your purchases back onto your cruise ship. Guests may request an in-room menu of hemp and cannabis products. 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. Here is a trippy little website that reports all the bad events for different cruise ships, HAL ships included plus an "anonymous" report about South American drug lords paying "elderly women" to act as drug mules transferring drugs to Europe on cruise ships since they are less likely to arouse suspicion with customs authorities.