Crew Caught in the Crossfire: How Seafarers Are Paying the Price for Drug Smugglers

US or Europe. All types of ships are at risk, and ports across South and Central America are exploited for smuggling purposes. Port perimeter security measures appear to offer little protection for the ship; drugs can make their way onto the ship in several different ways:

• • • Hidden on board by shore staff or, in some cases, crew members. Such perpetrators are often coerced as opposed to cooperating with criminals for financial gains
    • Attached to the hull by divers and removed again by divers when the ship reaches its destination
    • Hidden in shipping containers before loading
    • Hidden directly in cargo holds during loading
    • Hidden in the cooling units