Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse On Board Ship - Guidelines for Owners and Masters on Preparation, Prevention, Protection and Response - Sixth Edition 2021

Drug trafficking is undertaken by sea because of the opportunities presented for high volume movements from producing to consuming countries.

Commercial shipping, unfortunately, can unwittingly play a significant part in the transportation of illicit drugs to the places where they are consumed. The shipping industry therefore shares a collective responsibility to assist in combatting this illegal traffic. This requires shipping companies, and ships’ crews, to be constantly aware of the possibility that ships, and the cargo they carry, may be used as a cover for drug smuggling.

Drug abuse also presents a serious threat to ships’ crews, compounded by the direct connection between intravenous drug use and its associated health risks. It also exposes crews to the wider consequences of being associated with serious criminal activity, a particular danger in those parts of the world where the strict rule of law cannot be taken for granted or where the death penalty for drug trafficking still applies.

The guidance contained in this publication demonstrates how to protect the ship and the crew and reduce the risk of drug trafficking occurring on board.

The publication covers:
• Key global trafficking routes
• Ports and places commonly targeted by drug traffickers
• High profile drug seizures
• Vulnerabilities of shipping
• Risk management and security strategy
• Ship security procedures
• Port facility security procedures
• Training and education
• Emerging drug trends, including drug characteristics and identification
• Responding to unusual activity at sea, in port, or involving passengers or crew
• The signs of drug/alcohol use by crew members
• What to do when drugs are found on board.

It also includes a new section on cyber security measures and drug trafficking in the COVID-19 era.

The ‘War on Drugs’ waged by governments for the past 40 years has hardly been an overwhelming success story, but drug trafficking and drug abuse are among the greatest social evils of our time.

Drug trafficking is a huge criminal enterprise, involving enormous sums of money and a complex international network of often violent and highly organised cartels and gangs.

Commercial shipping, unfortunately, can unwittingly play a significant part in the transportation of illicit drugs to the places where they are consumed. The shipping industry therefore shares a collective responsibility to assist in combatting this illegal traffic. This requires shipping companies, and ships’ crews, to be constantly aware of the possibility that ships, and the cargo they carry, may be used as a cover for drug smuggling. This is also a matter of enlightened self-interest. In the event that illegal drugs are found on board a ship by local customs or law enforcement agencies, companies and seafarers may potentially be exposed to huge financial fines or penalties, or even the risk of imprisonment.

Drug abuse also presents a serious threat to ships’ crews, compounded by the direct connection between intravenous drug use and its associated health risks. Apart from the obvious impact of any illicit drug use on seafarers’ health, it affects fitness for duty and compromises the safety of the ship. It also exposes crews to the wider consequences of being associated with serious criminal activity, a particular danger in those parts of the world where the strict rule of law cannot be taken for granted or where the death penalty for drug trafficking still applies.

These Guidelines are intended to help shipping companies, Masters and ships’ officers to combat drug trafficking and to recognise some of the signs of possible drug use among crew members.

Cooperation with customs authorities is essential in fighting drug trafficking and, to that end, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding more than 30 years ago on the principles of such cooperation. The International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, held under UN auspices in 1987, welcomed the adoption of such agreements and called upon organisations such as ICS to prepare “standards or codes of conduct ... with a view to curbing the illicit traffic in drugs”. Guidelines setting out some of the ways in which shipping companies and customs authorities can cooperate were then drawn up in collaboration with the WCO, and the current edition of these Guidelines supplements this basic advice with more practical information, updated to reflect recent developments.

The latest edition of these Guidelines also includes a section on the implications of cyber risks for drug trafficking.

In the preparation of the current and previous editions of these Guidelines, ICS has sought advice from several sources. Particular acknowledgement is made to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna, the WCO, and customs authorities in the United Kingdom, the United States and Hong Kong, China.

Attention is drawn to countries where cannabis possession for personal use has been legalised. This may conflict with the laws of the flag State of the ship that prohibits such onboard possession and, if this is the case, the flag State law will take precedence.

Section A – Preparation – Understanding the Security Challenges

Chapter 1 – All Ports and Seas are Vulnerable

1.1 Strategic Response

1.2 Defining the Problem

1.3 Evolving Threats

1.4 Drug Policy and Procedures

1.5 Preparation, Protection, Prevention and Response

1.6 An Introduction to Measures to Safeguard a Ship Against Drug Trafficking

1.7 Assessing the Risk of Drug Trafficking by Ship for Specific Routes

1.8 Global Drug Trafficking Routes

1.9 Frequent Ports and Places Targeted by Drug Traffickers

Chapter 2 – The Threat to Ships 35

2.1 Vulnerabilities of Shipping

2.2 Drug Seizures On Board Ship

Chapter 3 – Risk Management

3.1 Security Strategy

3.2 The ISPS Code

3.3 The ILO/IMO Code of Practice on Security in Ports

3.4 STCW

3.5 The SAFE Framework of Standards

3.6 The Container Control Programme (CCP)

3.7 Guidelines for Prevention and Suppression of Illicit Drugs for International Shipping

Section B – Protection

Chapter 4 – Organisational Behaviour Leading to Enhanced Security Culture

4.1 Personnel Security Strategy

4.2 Personnel Control

4.3 Social Engineering

4.4 Procedural Protection Measures

4.5 Information Protection Measures

Chapter 5 – Physical Security Measures

5.1 Port Facility Protection Measures (Physical)

5.2 Port Facility Security Procedures

5.3 Ship Security Procedures

5.4 Port and Ship Cooperation

Chapter 6 – Cyber Security Measures

6.1 Cyber Risk and Drug Trafficking

6.2 How is Cyber-Enabled Trafficking Accomplished?

6.3 Cyber Protection Measures

6.4 Social Engineering by Electronic Means

6.5 Cyber Risk Management – Maritime Industry Requirements and Guidelines

Section C – Prevention

Chapter 7 – National and International Cooperation

7.1 Regional Cooperation Examples

7.2 Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery

Chapter 8 – Training and Education

8.1 Training Needs

8.2 Responsibilities for Delivery of Training Programmes

8.3 Training Slides

8.4 Familiarisation Checklist

Chapter 9 – Penalties and Prosecution

9.1 Legal Consequences

9.2 National Penalties

9.3 Prosecuting Trafficking on the High Seas

Section D – Response

Chapter 10 – Tactical

10.1 Unusual Activity at Sea

10.2 Unusual Activity While in Port

10.3 Suspicious Circumstances On Board

Chapter 11 – Operational

11.1 Concealment of Drugs

11.2 Containers (Rip-On/Rip-Off)

11.3 Suggested Checks for Masters and Ships’ Officers

11.4 Typical Locations where Drugs are Hidden on Ships

11.5 Searching the Ship

11.6 Additional Considerations

Chapter 12 – Actions When Drugs are Found

12.1 Safety Considerations

12.2 Actions Where Drugs are Found on Board

Section E – Recognition of Drugs

Chapter 13 – Drugs and Addiction

13.1 Broad Classification

13.2 Drug Addiction

13.3 Drugs Permitted On Board

13.4 Alcohol Abuse/Addiction

Chapter 14 – Emerging Drug Trends

14.1 New Psychoactive Substances

14.2 Opioids

14.3 Captagon

14.4 Cannabis Legalisation

Chapter 15 – Drug Characteristics and Identification

15.1 Cannabis

15.2 Opiates and Opioids

15.3 Cocaine

15.4 Hallucinogens

15.5 Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) (and New Psychoactive Substances (NPS))

15.6 Sedative Drugs

Chapter 16 – Legitimate Packaged Chemical Cargoes

Chapter 17 – Alcohol

Annex 1 – Checklists – Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse On Board

Annex 2 – Warning Poster

Annex 3 – Drug Seizure Statistics in Ships, Ports and at Sea 2018–2021

Annex 4 – Customs Authority Contacts

References

ICS

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the principal international trade association for the shipping industry, representing shipowners and operators in all sectors and trades. ICS membership comprises national shipowners' associations in Asia, Europe and the Americas whose member shipping companies operate over 80% of the world's merchant tonnage.

Established in 1921, ICS is concerned with all technical, legal, employment affairs and policy issues that may affect international shipping.

ICS represents shipowners with the various intergovernmental regulatory bodies that impact on shipping, including the International Maritime Organization.

ICS also develops best practices and guidance, including a wide range of publications and free resources that are used by ship operators globally.

https://www.ics-shipping.org/about-ics/

Witherbys

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Witherbys staff have significant expertise in the fields of navigation and hazardous cargoes as well as in the presentation of complex subjects in a graphic and easy to understand manner.