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Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse On Board Ship - Guidelines for Owners and Masters on Preparation, Prevention, Protection and Response, 2025-2026 Edition
£225.00
This publication provides guidance on how to combat drug trafficking at sea and how to recognise the signs of drug use and dependence among crew members.
Considered the leading industry publication on the topic, this 2025 - 2026 edition has been fully updated by industry experts to assist shipping companies, Masters and officers to prepare for, prevent, protect against and respond to drug trafficking and drug abuse at sea.
Use of these Guidelines can help to protect the shipping industry from the reputational and commercial damage that may be associated with drug incidents. They identify shipboard operational considerations and responses, as well as the training and procedures that should be in place both ashore and on board.
Fully updated and revised to incorporate the latest industry and regulatory guidance, topics covered include:
- Drug trafficking trends and patterns, as well as high-profile seizures and incidents
- physical security measures, both in port and on board ship
- training and education, including suggested training at both ship and corporate levels
- search procedures, including methods of searching and common concealment methods
- actions to be taken when drugs are found on board, including incident response reports and customs information.
These Guidelines provide essential guidance for shipping companies, ports, Masters, ships' officers, cargo owners, government officials, customs and the maritime industry as a whole.
Foreword
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.
Comments on these Guidelines, and suggestions for improvement to any future edition, will be welcome and should be addressed to:
International Chamber of Shipping
7th Floor, Walsingham House
35 Seething Lane,
London EC3N 4AH.
United Kingdom
info@ics-shipping.org
Foreword
Section A - Preparation - Understanding the Security Challenges
Chapter 1 - Introduction
1.1 Overview
1.2 Why these Guidelines are Essential
1.3 Defining the Problem
1.4 Background
1.5 The Current Situation
1.6 Strategic Response
1.7 Drug and Alcohol (D&A) Policy
1.7.1 D&A Related Procedures
1.7.2 The Master?s Responsibilities
1.7.3 Legal Drug and Medication Use
1.7.4 Testing Procedure
Chapter 2 - All Ports and Seas are Vulnerable
2.1 An Overview of Assessing the Risk of Drug Trafficking by Ship for Specific Routes
2.2 Global Drug Trafficking Routes
2.2.1 Key Global Routes - Flows of Heroin from/to Countries (or Regions)
2.2.2 Key Global Routes - Flows of Cocaine from/to Countries (or Regions)
2.2.3 Key Global Routes - Flows of Methamphetamine from/to Countries (or Regions)
2.2.4 Commentary on Key Drug Routes Affecting Merchant Shipping
2.3 Frequent Ports and Places Targeted by Drug Traffickers
2.3.1 High Profile Drug Seizures - Africa
2.3.2 High Profile Drug Seizures - The Americas
2.3.3 High Profile Drug Seizures - Middle East/Asia
2.3.4 High Profile Drug Seizures - Europe
2.3.5 High Profile Drug Seizures - Oceania
Chapter 3 - The Threat to Ships
3.1 Vulnerabilities of Shipping
3.2 Considering the Implications for Merchant Shipping
3.3 Overview of Measures to Safeguard a Ship Against Drug Trafficking
3.4 Trafficking Methods
3.5 Drug Seizures On Board Ship
3.5.1 Recent Drug Seizures on Dry Cargo Ships
3.5.2 Recent Drug Seizures on Tankers
3.5.3 Recent Drug Seizures on Passenger Ships
Chapter 4 - Risk Management
4.1 Security Strategy
4.2 The ISPS Code
4.2.1 Ship Security Plan
4.2.2 Designated Roles and Certification
4.3 The ILO/IMO Code of Practice on Security in Ports
4.4 STCW
4.4.1 Mandatory Security Training
4.4.2 STCW Drug Abuse Guidelines
4.5 The SAFE Framework of Standards
4.6 Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP)
4.7 Guidelines for Prevention and Suppression of Illicit Drugs for International Shipping
Section B - Protection
Chapter 5 - Organisational Behaviour Leading to Enhanced Security Culture
5.1 Personnel Security Strategy
5.2 Personnel Control
5.3 Social Engineering
5.4 Procedural Protection Measures
5.5 Information Protection Measures
Chapter 6 - Physical Security Measures
6.1 Ship Security Procedures
6.1.1 Role of the Ship Security Officer (SSO) with Reference to Drug Trafficking Prevention
6.1.2 Ship Access Control and Identification
6.1.3 External Concealment Protection Measures on Ships
6.2 Port Facility Protection Infrastructure
6.3 Port Facility Security Procedures
6.4 Port and Ship Cooperation/Communication
6.5 Hostile Reconnaissance
Chapter 7 - Cyber Security Measures
7.1 Cyber Risk and Drug Trafficking
7.2 How is Cyber-Enabled Trafficking Accomplished?
7.2.1 Online Hostile Reconnaissance
7.3 Cyber Protection Measures
7.4 Social Engineering
7.4.1 What is Social Engineering?
7.4.2 Types of Social Engineering
7.4.3 What Can you do to Prevent an Electronic Social Engineering Attack?
7.5 Cyber Risk Management - Maritime Industry Requirements and Guidelines
7.5.1 IMO
7.5.2 Other Sources
Section C - Prevention
Chapter 8 - National and International Cooperation
8.1 Regional Cooperation
8.2 Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery
8.2.1 Identifying Bribery
Chapter 9 - Training and Education
9.1 Training Needs
9.2 Responsibilities for Delivery of Training Programmes
9.2.1 Individual Seafarers
9.3 Training Slides
9.3.1 Suggested Presentation at Ship Level
9.3.2 Suggested Presentation at Corporate Level
Chapter 10 - Penalties and Prosecution
10.1 Legal Consequences
10.1.1 Maritime Labour Convention Requirements
10.2 National Penalties
10.3 Prosecuting Trafficking on the High Seas
Section D - Response
Chapter 11 - Tactical
11.1 Unusual Activity at Sea
11.2 Unusual Activity While in Port
11.3 Potential for Drug Trafficking on Cruise Ships
11.4 Potential for Drug Trafficking and Abuse on Yachts
11.4.1 Trade Routes
11.4.2 Notable Yacht Seizures
11.4.3 Actions in the Event of Drugs Found On Board
11.4.4 Drug Use and/or Abuse On Board Yachts
11.4.5 Company Policies
11.5 Suspicious Circumstances On Board
11.6 Incidents Involving Crew
11.6.1 Procedure Where Illegal Drug Use is Suspected
11.7 Medical Response
Chapter 12 - Operational
12.1 Concealment of Drugs
12.2 Containers (Rip-On/Rip-Off)
12.3 Suggested Checks for Masters and Ships? Officers
12.4 Typical Locations Where Drugs are Hidden on Ships
12.4.1 Dry Cargo
12.4.2 Tankers
12.4.3 Passenger/RoRo
12.5 Searching the Ship
12.5.1 Search Planning
12.5.2 Reactive Search
12.5.3 Targeted Search
12.5.4 Preventative Search
12.5.5 Methods of Searching
12.6 Additional Considerations
12.6.1 Freight Vehicles and Dumb Trailers
12.6.2 Other Freight
12.6.3 Ships? Stores
12.6.4 Miscellaneous Deliveries to Ships and Ports
12.6.5 Search Duration/Time
12.6.6 External Concealment
Chapter 13 ? Actions When Drugs are Found
13.1 Safety Considerations
13.2 Actions When Drugs are Found On Board
13.3 Labelling Drugs
13.4 Notifications and Customs
13.5 Post-incident Actions
13.6 Incident Report
Section E - Recognition of Drugs
Chapter 14 - Drugs and Addiction
14.1 Broad Classification
14.2 Drug Addiction
14.2.1 Risk of Addiction - Genetic or Environmental
14.2.2 Physical Addiction
14.2.3 Psychological Addiction
14.3 Drugs Permitted On Board
Chapter 15 - Alcohol and Addiction
15.1 Alcohol Restrictions
15.2 Responding to Alcohol Abuse
15.3 Alcohol Addiction
15.4 Alcohol on Cruise Ships
15.5 Tobacco, Nicotine and E-Cigarettes
15.5.1 Smoking On Board
15.5.2 Global Restrictions
Chapter 16 - Emerging Drug Trends
16.1 New Psychoactive Substances
16.1.1 Synthetic Benzodiazepines (BZDs)
16.2 Opioids
16.2.1 Fentanyl
16.2.2 Tramadol
16.3 Captagon
16.4 Cannabis Legalisation
16.5 Nitazenes
Chapter 17 - Drug Characteristics and Identification
17.1 Cannabis
17.2 Opiates and Opioids
17.3 Cocaine
17.4 Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) (and New Psychoactive Substances (NPS))
17.5 Hallucinogens (Psychedelics)
17.6 Sedative Drugs
Chapter 18 - Legitimate Packaged Chemical Cargoes
18.1 Precursor Chemicals
Annex 1 - Checklists - Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse On Board
1. Drug Trafficking ? Security Procedure to Prevent Trafficking of Drugs On Board
2. Drug Trafficking ? Search Procedure if Illegal Drugs are Believed to be On Board
3. Drug Trafficking ? Actions to be considered if a Crew Member is Suspected of Trafficking Drugs On Board
4. Drug Trafficking ? Actions if Suspected Drugs are Discovered On Board
5. Drug Trafficking ? Actions in the Event of Confirmed Drug Trafficking by a Crew Member On Board
6. Drug Trafficking ? Actions if a Passenger is Confirmed as Trafficking Drugs On Board
7. Drug Abuse On Board ? By a Crew Member
8. Drug Abuse On Board ? By a Passenger
9. Familiarisation Checklist on Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse Awareness for New Joiners
Annex 2 ? Warning Posters
Annex 3 ? Drug Seizure Statistics in Ships, Ports and at Sea 2023?2024
Annex 4 ? Customs Authority Contacts
Reporting
Customs Authority Contacts
References
International Chamber of Shipping
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
Witherbys titles are developed using scripts developed by technical experts that are peer reviewed within work groups. Typically, they seek to improve understanding of the regulations, recommendations and guidelines issued by Industry.
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.
- Number of Pages:
- 250
- Published Date:
- April 2025
- Book Height:
- 297 mm
- Book Width:
- 210 mm
- Publication Date:
- April 2025
- Author:
International Chamber of Shipping and Witherbys
- Weight:
- 1.3 kg
