I could of been smuggling pounds of drugs but she had absolutely no interest in me. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. I read once how a drug agent was able to target certain persons for more thorough checks upon arrival. A grandmother from Georgia was caught smuggling over $300k of cocaine off a cruise ship into Bermuda. The Maritime Executive. If you want to bring prescription drugs on a cruise, thats usually fine. Other Atlantis Events cruise parties have been marred by drug overdoses and deaths over the years. For the intent of the law you only need be within 100 miles of the border. In years past, a limited number of attendees for the Holy Ship! Cruise lines use a variety of methods to search for illegal drugs including x-rays, metal detectors, scanners and sniffer dogs. The Maritime Executive. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. and our As in much of life, the very few ruin things for the majority. 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. More than 1.3 million cruise ship passengers visited Puerto Rico in 2000, with most--1.2 million--arriving in San Juan. A random check is a random check and they conduct them routinely both on ships and at the land border. . At the pier, as you board your cruise, you may notice customs or security officials with dogs. 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. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. "Carnival recognizes that some state and local governments in the U.S., and in the destinations we visit, might allow marijuana use. But it did make me wonder whether some of the airline employees who handle our baggage could be involved in drug smuggling. As long as the business is as lucrative as it is, it will continue. Dubbed the Cocaine Babe, Lagace had documented her global journey on the cruise which made stops across the US, South America and the Pacific with dozens of bikini-clad Instagram posts of her and Roberge. 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. The menu typically features loose grass, pre-rolled joints, hashish and some edibles such as muffins, cookies and brownies. When you board a cruise ship, your bags will be x-rayed to check for alcohol and weapons. At many ports, the luggage is also checked by a sniffer dog who may be trained to detect drugs and explosives. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Just last year, Joel Taylor, a star on the Discovery series. 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. 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 . Last for hours sometimes days. When the ship arrived in Port Everglades, Florida, the crew turned over the narcotics last week. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. $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. Gainfully perhaps isn't the best word to use. Hi, I'm Jenni. I was in the shower and my partnerwas not dressed. If you or anybody around you needs assistance or might need medical care, please simply ask them. Enrollment required. If my memory serves me I believe his exact words were the dog gota hitin your room,what and where isit? Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much I have even smelled it on a Celebrity ship. Plus Ups are excluded. Whoever it was, was covering the peep hole so we couldnt see. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The use of older people explains why the elderly and wheelchair-bound people are often seen being frisked. 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. I want to know when "two women in their sixties" became synonymous with "Elderly?" 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. They said it was random. The classic method is to empty a bottle of, say, wintergreen mouthwash, sterilize the bottle with boiling water, and let it dry. Before they were busted with 200 pounds of blow, they instagrammed their lavish drug smuggling cruise. The majority of the suspects received misdemeanor possession and drug paraphernalia charges. SwissMyst, May 13, 2010 in Holland America Line, 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. The senior citizens posed as tourists taking cruise holidays around South America to pick up packages of the drug to bring back to Spain. Being on a ship in harbor counts as being at the border also. There were reportedly a half-dozen drug overdoses during the cruise. We were on a cruise where it was obvious the young men in a cabin down the hall were "casual" pot smokers. If youre at the Ward Cove cruise pier, however, you are only about 2 miles via taxi transportation. Glad I always take not only my walker but also rent a scooter. 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. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. If they can take stuff out of our bags, they can also put something in. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. If I remember the explanation given by a poster on another forum (works for that cruise line in security), if there have been suspicions raised during the cruise of illegal drug use or contraband during any part of the cruise, the ship will notify the port authorities who will do the search and any arrests necessary. Have you ever, while pondering the ways of the morn. I questioned why Royal Caribbean tolerated the widespread use of drugs during Atlantis Events cruise parties. Just put them in your hand luggage and be sure to bring a copy of your prescription with you. Actually, a better question is if you noticed the dog alerting? Simple answer is that likely one of the back to backers was thought to have drugs, usually somone tips off the authorities, they don't just bring the dog on, so they decided to samplemore than one cabin. He handles a wide variety of cases from serious injuries to thehighest profile sexual assault and cruise crime cases. 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. 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. I remember thinking that if the dog actually sniffedsomething out they would know what and where. Hmmmm, I am picturing you walking with a cane, smuggling cocaine. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. On February 3rd, 2109, while doing a back to back on Allure. You may remember the arrest of 29-year-old Isabelle Lagace and 24-year-old Melina Roberge. 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. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Boric acid and birth control. Getting Drugs on a Cruise Going on a cruise in a few weeks through carnival. If you did nothing wrong than you have no reason at all to feel humiliated. ;). A subsequent search of her cabin found pipes and other paraphernalia and cannabis oil. On June 6, CBP officers met the cruise ship and security team during a maintenance stop at Port Everglades, and the packages of white powder tested positive for cocaine, CBP said. I wondered if they say that to everyone to try to get them to crack. A week before that Royal Caribbean/Atlantis cruise, I wroteIs Royal Caribbean Ready for Medical Emergencies During the Worlds Largest Gay Cruise? In addition, foreign governments at Norwegian Cruise Line ports of call have strict laws that address drug possession. We opened the door and It was a customs search team. if you want to take drugs on a cruise ship, youd better make sure that you have a prescription for them. Smuggling drugs on cruise ships is big business. Apr 12, 2022 The Spanish authorities arrested 10 guests sailing aboard the cruise ship MSC Seaside for attempting to smuggle 54 kilos of cocaine. Mar 3, 2023 8:13 PM by 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. Victor. Thoughts and prayers for those in the path of Katarina. Ask Jim a Question about Cruise Law Our state room attendant told us that this happens just about every week. Powered by Invision Community. Wow, I have never heard of this happening. I want to know when "two women in their sixties" became synonymous with "Elderly?" :). Clearly they targeted the back to back cruisers. My son has been searched coming back into the US from Canada. Hide and Seek: How Drug Traffickers Get Creative at Sea. The drugs were seized by the ship's security and handed to the authorities at Port Everglades, Florida. Your cruise vacation will come to an abrupt halt. Most people dont realize how different being at sea is and how the combination of motion, sun, and late hours can sneak up on you. February 5, 2019 Update: NBC News covered the drug bust. Did they actually accuse you of hiding something, or did they say they wanted to ask further questions--i.e., suspect there might be something hidden because the dog alerted? Published They knew who we were and where we were from. From there you may face fines and possible jail time. 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. Over 1.7 million cruise ship passengers visited the USVI in 2000. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. At the Cannabis Corner in the fishing town of Ketchikan, a small lounge is outfitted with couches, a fireplace and activities such as adult coloring books. Dang, to be called Elderly and a Mule in the same sentence? I was humiliatedin front of my neighbours on the ship. Your Name Eventually they left leaving us a mess. Well, at least you had a room steward to clean up their mess. Or, there may have been contraband in the room before you were there. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. 11:20 AM EDT, Sun June 13, 2021. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. All Rights Reserved. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The vessel is designed to collect debris from the waters and is part of the companys environmental efforts. The other woman was also older, very large, and was wearing a dress which revealed swollen feet and legs. Other major news media have been reluctant to identify the Allure of the Seas as the cruise ship where the men intended to sell the drugs. On a person? That being said, there were people vaping on every cruise we've been on. 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. Most foreign-produced illicit drugs available in the United States are smuggled into the country overland across the borders with Mexico and, to a much lesser extent, Canada (see Table 1). Customs and Border Protection officers seized bricks of cocaine weighing 69.5 pounds on a cruise ship last week, the agency said. Apr 12, 2022. Last month the CDC issued updated guidelines, allowing cruise ship operators to begin simulated voyages with volunteer passengers. Mar 3, 2023 6:46 PM by A cruise ships 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 Florida port, CBP said in a statement. I fail to see any reason why she would lie to us about that. News Cocaine Drug Smuggling Import. All matters are handled in the same ethical manner as in a land-based hospital. The senior citizens posed as tourists taking cruise holidays around South America to pick up packages of the drug to bring back to Spain. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. 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. If you plan on bringing drugs on a cruise ship, you should make sure that you also bring your prescription. Thing is, some are not harmless. Other Atlantis Events cruise parties have been marred by drug overdoses and deaths over the years. The Silverbow Inn in downtown Juneau, for instance, promotes on its website that guests may visit the nearby Rainforest Farms Cafe and then unwind and get an amazing night of rest during your stay at the property. Discovery Company. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. By Absolutely correct - as of this June, "elderly" means 87. The news station stated that the men were arrested on charges of illegal drug trafficking with Melendez charged with intent to trafficMDMA. CC Help Jenn Just whether you wanna be the one that takes the risk. passengers from two back-to-back cruises on suspicion of drug possession, including multiple individuals who were accused of intending to sell drugson board. The smugglers were arrested while disembarking the ship at the port of Valencia last Sunday, following a Transatlantic cruise from Brazil. Fri, 06/11/2021 - 12:00. "This was the largest cocaine seizure in the 230-year history of U.S. Customs and Border Protection [CBP]," said prosecutors, adding, "The sheer quantity of drugs involved in this case is . Have a comment? Cruise authorities notified CBP investigators deployed to Port Everglades ahead of the . Two Women Busted For $30 Million In Cocaine Also Took Some Great Instagram Pics. drugs, why do they use drugs? Most importantly, cruise ships operate under federal jurisdiction. Police found 27 kilos (59 lbs) of pure cocaine hidden in their cabin. Just so you know they showed us no paperwork what so ever. Privacy Statement - It actually feels like a civil rights violation even though law permits it. Smaller ports are less likely to use sniffer dogs. 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. Once in the submarine, we found 200 sacks that contained 4,000 rectangular packages of cocaine.". Cookie Policy - Jan 9, 2019 2:14 PM by Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. LauraS The criminal aspects of the drug smuggling attempt would be subject to the laws and jurisdiction of the country where the drugs were discovered, where the vessel and the drugs are located. 2023 Cable News Network. Mitsui O.S.K. 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. I will add that they were all respectful to us, even when they accused me of having "something"hidden in the room somewhere. Most of us don't understand, but I am still not sure why you choose to post this on the cruise forum? The on-site consumption rules are that you may buy raw or edible (containing up to 10 mg THC) cannabis products for on-site use in a lounge, located behind a secured door or in a separate building. Due to the high cost of drinks on cruise ships, a lot of people try to speak alcohol on board. 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. Discussion in 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles' started by Jack69123, Dec 31, 2017. Enjoy yourselves, but remember to take breaks to eat, sleep, and of course hydrate! I'm heading out on a carnival ship on the 20th of this month and have been back and forth about trying to bring 2 dab pens on with me thrown in my makeup bag. Join 40,000 cruiserswho readmy email each week Ill never go on cruise again I live in legal state , leaving from NJ legal state going to a legal country Canada fk this , never again Im intractable pain patient who cant drink. I took weed on one of 3 cruises and was dreading it, dreaming up all kinds of horrific scenarios. Smuggling recreational drugs onto a cruise ship is always a terrible idea. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, admitted she tried to smuggle about $30 million worth of cocaine into Australia, She was sentenced in November to 7 years in prison. "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. The fine in the Bahamas is $500 per charge. 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. Published I am still wondering how anyone could expect to hide over 50 pounds of cocaine in a cabin! Marijuana was legalized in Alaska for private use in 2014. Three Canadian cruise ship passengers were charged with drug smuggling Monday, Aug. 29, after Sydney police allegedly found 95 kilograms (209 pounds) of cocaine in their cabin luggage. In 2011, Steven Krumholz was arrested on an Atlantis cruise for possessing methamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine and over $50,000 in cash. It was turn around day in Miami. All I had was prescriptionsso there was nothing of course. ;). 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. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. Try some good blotter paper. We plan on doing it all while on the cruise so we will not be bringing it back. But the product was limited to use in private, leaving cruisers out of the picture. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. The National Crime Agency (NCA), which. Such responses can help many people in the future (not just the people who cruise on one particular ship). by MacAbre (vulture). Pentagon contractor busted when boarding cruise with his bag of drugs to sell; used government computer for planning peddling pills. Here's Walt's "Lines upon a tranquil brow". One woman was quite elderly and frail and did not appear to be very alert. Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. 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. That way, if there are any questions asked about the drugs, you can prove they you are legally allowed to take them. The ship was crossing the Atlantic Ocean on. 04-16-2013, 03:33 PM goldengrain . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. BRAZIL / 20 FEB 2021 BY KATIE JONES EN. Enrollment required. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Consider the case of a Pennsylvania woman who in 2018 was found by customs officers to have two bags of pot in her purse as she boarded Royal Caribbeans Anthem of the Seas in Bermuda. While you may light up legally in some states and some countries its illegal to have cannabis on a cruise ship, so you cannot get high on the high seas. 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. 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. I also have many security clearances because of my former career. CBP officers secured the bricks of. Its believed that these dogs can detect infected people with 97% accuracy, even in those who are asymptomatic. Published 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.. The agents are aware that dozens of people have occupied each cabin recently. "Exotic" port-of-call excursions that amount to a booty call with a new . 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. Please leave one below or join the discussion on our Facebook page. We were allowed to put on robes and we waited barefoot, under guard in the hallway (on display to the. Posts: n/a. Cruise ship employees are drug tested before they begin working on a cruise ship and they are also subject to random drug testing. Cruise ship passengers arent routinely patted down when boarding a cruise ship, although you will be asked to walk through a metal detector.