F or many people, a big Caribbean cruise means a multi-day party on the open seas. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. But they do have walk-through metal detectors to detect any hidden weapons. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. On February 3rd, 2109, while doing a back to back on Allure. 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. Reports are that the eight people disembarked the . */A reader of this blog contacted me last week and pointed out that Atlantis Events changed it policies apparently based on last years death on the Harmony of the Seas. Two travelers from Washington D.C. were arrested on Sunday, February 3, after trying to smuggle drugs in their luggage onboard a cruise ship docked in PortMiami Florida, police said.. 35-year-old Peter Melendez and 27-year-old Robert Koehler were detained after an officer intercepted emails sent through a computer Melendez used as a government contractor. Being on a ship in harbor counts as being at the border also. Cruise ports dont have the nude body scanners that you step into and put your hand up like at airports. the worst thing to fear is bringing it on board from where ever You docks. Cruise ship security teams are mostly searching for alcohol and weapons. Jan 9, 2019 2:14 PM by You may remember the arrest of 29-year-old Isabelle Lagace and 24-year-old Melina Roberge. MacAbre (vulture). ), Churchy LaFemme (the turtle), etc. I was in the shower and my partnerwas not dressed. I want to know when "two women in their sixties" became synonymous with "Elderly?" Pentagon contractor busted when boarding cruise with his bag of drugs to sell; used government computer for planning peddling pills. 2 Canadian Women Accused of Smuggling $22 Million in Cocaine into Australia on Cruise Ship Over 200 pounds were seized by Australian Border Protection. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Drug subs are stealth vessels favored by smugglers to discreetly move tons of cocaine, marijuana . 2023 Cable News Network. With the arrests of two cruise ship employees yesterday as their vessel docked in Manhattan, Federal law enforcement officials revealed the existence of an unusual drug ring that they said. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Started August 27, 2021, By Since my Mom still talks about the cruise they were on that ended in Ensenada Mexico where every single person's luggage was sifted through with a fine tooth comb while elderly people wilted and collapsed all over the place, I'll just predict the Mules will be caught. By Police found 27 kilos (59 lbs) of pure cocaine hidden in their cabin. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. A final note on your conviction. Apparently we were not singled out ashalf the back to back cruisers were raided as well. That's right Rev. Cruise ships visit some states where private use of cannabis is legal including Alaska, California, Washington, Maine, Massachusetts and New York. Lines, best known for its fleets of dry bulkers and car carriers, has launched possibly its smallest and most unique vessel. She also admitted smuggling in the drugs, saying shed been given an ultimatum by an unnamed person to clear a $20,000 debt. Cruise lines have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs. She is the author of several cruise and travel books, including 100 Things To Do In Alaska Before You Die." Take a night off once and a while and explore the myriad of options we have planned for you! 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. It actually feels like a civil rights violation even though law permits it. A catch for cruisers is the shop is out the Tongass Highway, about 10 miles from downtown cruise piers, so you have to arrange transportation. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Seven South Florida port workers have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a cocaine smuggling ring that moved drugs from cargo and cruise ships docked at . She was arrested by Bermuda authorities, held in custody, pleaded guilty to four counts of drug possession, fined $4,000, which she had to pay on the spot, and eventually sent home no cruise for her. Smuggling recreational drugs onto a cruise ship is always a terrible idea. By KATELYN MARMON August 31, 2016, 9:00 PM 2:18 VIDEO: 2 Women Arrested on Cruise Ship for 209 Pound Cocaine Seizure ABCNews.com The pair face up to 12 years in prison if convicted of drugs . is an award-winning cruise journalist whose work regularly appears in Bloomberg, Travel + Leisure, Afar and other travel outlets. "Exotic" port-of-call excursions that amount to a booty call with a new . No votes so far! Most importantly, cruise ships operate under federal jurisdiction. Many lines are targeting midsummer to resume cruising in US waters, provided they can meet CDC requirements. Actually, a better question is if you noticed the dog alerting? LauraS When the ship arrived in Port Everglades, Florida, the crew turned over the narcotics last week. by 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. We are both trusted travelers. 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. 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. We were on a cruise where it was obvious the young men in a cabin down the hall were "casual" pot smokers. drugs on cruises. A group of guys getting back on the ship in Ochos Rios got popped with some mushrooms in April. Marijuana was legalized in Alaska for private use in 2014. 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. It was turn around day in Miami. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Named Arika, MOL conducted a demonstration of its marine debris collection vessel off the coast of Bali in Indonesia on March 1. Hope the cruise itself was wonderful and that you had a fun time! For instance, despite efforts by Femke Halsema, mayor of Amsterdam, to ban tourists from the citys famous coffee shops, you may still legally light up in these cafe-like establishments. There was widespread discussion regarding the use of drugs during Atlantis Events sponsored events.*. A few hours in New Orleans after docking Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Other Atlantis Events cruise parties have been marred by drug overdoses and deaths over the years. A cruise you will certainly remember. Pot-smoking cruisers on Alaska sailings might want to begin or end their cruise in Seattle or Juneau, where there are also cannabis-friendly properties. There was absolutely no reason to do this to us. The organization highlights that its plan will also significantly contribute to the wider UK net zero transition goals. Cruise lines also have technological means to find drugs in checked bags, though they dont publicly talk about that. In an open letter to the head of Royal Caribbean after Joel Taylor's suspected overdose, he wrote: "If three people had died from drug overdoses at a nightclub on land, that club would be shut. All rights reserved. Officials say the record drug haul worth $22 million dollars was found in the luggage of two women aboard a cruise ship in Australia. In a statement, vessel operator Norwegian Cruise Lines emphasized that it does not permit illicit substances on board. Last year,Storm Chasersstar Joel Taylor died of a suspected overdose on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, which had been chartered byAtlantis Events, according toTMZand otherwebsites. That was the first clue. 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. Okay, I keep trying to talk myself down and this post helps. But most of it will. Last for hours sometimes days. And the drugs that are intercepted are most times not discovered by dogs. This exact thing happened to my husband and several other men we were with when we coming back on the ship in Montego Bay on our Conquest cruise. But even with a prescription, some drugs like medical marijuana are still not allowed. Expect to be detained and interviewed by Customs and Border Control when you . 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. I also had a plan to sneak cans of beer in, *Notice: Edited and reposted because moderators don't appreciate it when you talk about other drugs, Copyright 1999 - 2022 Grasscity.com is a part of, (You must log in or sign up to post here. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. I questioned why Royal Caribbean tolerated the widespread use of drugs during Atlantis Events cruise parties. Our state room attendant was a wonderful woman with a long career with Royal Caribbean. Plenty of people smoke pot. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Eight American cruise ship passengers were taken in to custody after they allegedly tried to leave Jamaica with US$850,000 worth of cocaine. Among their duties may be to sniff out drugs in carry-on baggage. 7 de junio de 2022; Smuggling drugs on cruise ships forum. If you're caught, the consequences could ruin your life. I wondered if they say that to everyone to try to get them to crack. 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. [Source]. News Cocaine Drug Smuggling Import. Along with the organizers of the event, we are cooperating fully with local law enforcement to ensure the welfare of all guests attending the festival. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. All I had was prescriptionsso there was nothing of course. Alaska law bans consuming marijuana in public view, including while walking down the street or in city parks if you get caught you may be fined. And I would think that would have involved more detention and an even more thorough tossing! 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Published The event's organizer discourages these discussions, and in the past it has blacklistedattendees for participating in them. 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. Yes, indeed. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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! It's so common that the cruise lines explicitly state rules and consequences about bringing drinks on board with you. 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. In that same survey mentioned earlier, 19% of passengers admitted to doing so at least once. In 2010, I wrote the articleAnother Death on a Royal Caribbean Atlantis Cruiseafter a passenger died while aboard theLiberty of the Seaswhich had been chartered to Atlantis Events. All of our neighbours think were druglords! 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. If you did nothing wrong than you have no reason at all to feel humiliated. 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. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. The U.S. Consulate is required to be notified of your international arrest and/or your conviction. The use of older people explains why the elderly and wheelchair-bound people are often seen being frisked. Drug traffickers engage in a creative game of hide and seek with coast guards and other security forces that board their ships at sea. Nine officers dressed in black with bullet proof vests, a ship security guard and a dog. 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. "Every person and each piece of luggage will be inspected by dogs trained to detect explosives and contraband.". Plenty of people get high. If youre at the Ward Cove cruise pier, however, you are only about 2 miles via taxi transportation. drugs, why do they use drugs? A few years ago we were going through security at PIT and were upset to see the two wheelchair-bound ladies that were getting the full treatment. The arrests of Mlina Roberge and Isabelle Lagace captured headlines around the world mostly because of the trove of glamour photos they had shared of . ;). A three-masted training ship interdicted a drug-laden high-speed smuggling vessel off the coast of Colombia on Friday, the Ecuadorian Navy announced. Neither had I until it happened this was cruise number 28. Roger and Sue Clarke, aged 72 and 71 . You don't know how much I appreciate your post! I remember Pogo and Lil' Abner as a kid but failed to get or understand the deeper political messages they were also sending out. 2. This story has been shared 159,956 times. The CBPs Advanced Tactical Cargo Enforcement Team performed a thorough inspection of the ship and did not find any other contraband, the agency said. We plan on doing it all while on the cruise so we will not be bringing it back. Discussion in 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles' started by Jack69123, Dec 31, 2017. The Maritime Executive. I believe that they may do random searches from time to time so the dog may or may not have alerted on anything. 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. Not only could you get kicked off the ship, but you could also end up in prison. 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. Published My friends and I want to bring some Coke and some Molly. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. No we did not know the other people. If you do smoke, say, on your cabin balcony, it may be your fellow cruise passengers who rat you out. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. If you plan on bringing drugs on a cruise ship, you should make sure that you also bring your prescription. Just so you know they showed us no paperwork what so ever. A member of an international cocaine smuggling ring, whose members used cruise ship passengers as mules to transport millions of dollars worth of drugs from . Nine officers dressed in black with bullet proof vests, a ship security guard and a dog. Has anyone cruised recently, post Covid, that would know the security around weed. Just because you see a dog on a ship does not mean there are drugs on the ship and it does not mean there is a tip there are drugs on the ship. The majority of the suspects received misdemeanor possession and drug paraphernalia charges. Hi Chuck, hopefully its not a case of never again if the cruise lines change their stance on medical marijuana then Ill definitely update this post. My response was what does the doghit on? 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.. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Convienient for the CBP. Good to have others who remember Walt Kelly and the Pogo gang fondly. If you see somebody who over-indulged or is unwell, please let our team assist first. It is the second year in a row that law enforcement personnelhave made large numbers of drug-related arrests before Holy Ship! Dang, to be called Elderly and a Mule in the same sentence? Please view our advertising policy page for more information. She will NEVER admit to being elderly. 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. Two Women Busted For $30 Million In Cocaine Also Took Some Great Instagram Pics. The Maritime Executive. 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." You'll find something similar on every other cruise line website. 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. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). They are here to help and will provide support in a nonjudgmental manner regardless of the situation. I can't even believe someone would post this. Just last year, Joel Taylor, a star on the Discovery series. Fran lives in Cleveland, Ohio. When you board a cruise ship, your bags will be x-rayed to check for alcohol and weapons. Two individuals were charged with trafficking for alleged possession of larger quantities of MDMA. and our Compared to the general population, rave attendees self-report significantly higher use rates for MDMA, ketamineand other psychoactive substances. you guys remind me why I enjoy cruise critic so much. LauraS Thank you thank you thank you and glad you enjoyed your vacation! Cruises are all about drinking and I'm pretty sure they bring their own. All matters are handled in the same ethical manner as in a land-based hospital. The ultimate guide to booking cruises to Alaska, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Started August 27, 2021, By Cruise lines use a variety of methods to search for illegal drugs including x-rays, metal detectors, scanners and sniffer dogs. This information allcomes up with a passport check. The hotel has a rooftop hot tub among the areas where you might enjoy your purchase. We opened the door and It was a customs search team. Or maybe it only happens on the Allure. This was all unnecessary as my bag just went through the x-ray with zero concern. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. CC Help Jenn I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Sorry this happened to you. Local 10 News reports thata Homeland Security special agent intercepted emails from the government-issued computer of Peter Melendez, age 35, (Facebook page here), who is a government contractor at the Pentagon, andRobert Koehler, age 27, (Facebook page here), discussing their strategy to distribute the smuggled drugs to other passengers on the ship. JP Morgan's asset management arm, which owns the ship, and MSC together paid $50 million in cash and a surety bond to secure its temporary release. If any guest or crew member is caught possessing or taking drugs, they will be sent home at the next port of call. As to the legalities, I understand it is their ship, they get to do what they want, no paperwork required. You may have an opportunity to indulge on land. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? The ship was crossing the Atlantic Ocean on. It is still illegal for tourists to take the products off-site. 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. 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 . The latest discovery comes as mass Covid-19 vaccinations have opened the door for cruise ships to test the waters. We all know people smuggle drugs all the time, by air, sea and land. The people who sell on those port calls are the narcs. 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. All they do is ask for your drivers license/birth certificate/passport and then ask what you bought in Mexico (you have a limit on how much you can bring back and they want to make sure you are not trying to dodge taxes). Cruise Line Policies About Smuggling Alcohol It's not unusual that passengers will sneak alcohol aboard a cruise. Victor. It is a legit question. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. 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. It depends on where you are cruising. 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. Eventually they left leaving us a mess. You are right.I was offended for these ladies who I thought appeared to be quite helpless. Learn more. "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. Boric acid and birth control. CC Help Jenn 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. An elderly British couple have been sentenced to eight years in prison for smuggling cocaine worth 1m on a luxury cruise ship. All Rights Reserved. Alaska has been at the forefront of a movement in the U.S. to provide places where tourists and locals can light up socially. Her service was impeccable. The senior citizens posed as tourists taking cruise holidays around South America to pick up packages of the drug to bring back to Spain. Powered by Invision Community. If they can take stuff out of our bags, they can also put something in. The other woman was also older, very large, and was wearing a dress which revealed swollen feet and legs. Illegal drugs or substances will be confiscated and appropriate action taken,which may include removal from the ship and involvement of appropriate authorities. Thanks for the sarcasm Mr. Q. ButI am looking for serious answers. Posts: n/a. Due to the high cost of drinks on cruise ships, a lot of people try to speak alcohol on board. Drug transporters exploit the cruise ship industry to transport drugs into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI. It was turn around day in Miami. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full, I like this site because people ask questions that are cruise-related but not always specific to just one ship. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Now that we can't lock our bags unless we use TSA locks or cable ties, how difficult would it be to open the bags and load them with contraband at the departure city, and then have someone grab them off the carousel at the destination. Ports of call may have looser rules. Additional consumption lounges in Alaska are in the works, including in Juneau. That way, if there are any questions asked about the drugs, you can prove they you are legally allowed to take them. The classic method is to empty a bottle of, say, wintergreen mouthwash, sterilize the bottle with boiling water, and let it dry. You cant bring pot or edibles onto a cruise ship. This has given me much relief and is exactly what I have been searching for for MONTHS. Most of us don't understand, but I am still not sure why you choose to post this on the cruise forum? 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. In the 2011 incident, Customs and Border Protection agents searched Krumholz's cabin and reportedly found more than 142 ecstasy pills, nearly 3 grams of methamphetamine, a small quantity of ketamine and about $51,000 in cash. 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. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Does that mean that when I am silver haired and walking with a cane that I can be gainfully employed??? Contact Us - # 1. That said, the security teams main priority isnt to look for drugs, as they have other things to be concerned with. You are here on vacation, and we truly want you to go home feeling rested, not exhausted.. appreciated. And if anyone were to sneak a bomb onto a cruise ship the consequences would be disastrous. For the intent of the law you only need be within 100 miles of the border. Jim Walker graduated from law school in 1983 and has been handling maritime law cases for the past thirty-five years. Your cruise vacation will come to an abrupt halt. Clearly it can be done. 11:20 AM EDT, Sun June 13, 2021. The reason I asked is that dogs sometimes alert because they detect traces of something that could have come from anywhere, including your luggage that might have rubbed residue in a cab trunk. You say half the group of back to back cruisers were also raided,. Did you encounter any technical issues? 04-16-2013, 03:33 PM goldengrain . Privacy Statement - Think long and hard about it. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. The security woman pushed me to the side and went after my husband. 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. 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.

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