Drugs

[John Arton]

https://gcaptain.com/tanker-captain-...gs-in-belgium/
Drug smuggling seems to be on the increase. 2 tons of cocaine discovered in a container from Colombia at London gateway container terminal and the captain of this ship took action when he discovered crew members suspected of drug smuggling.
Never saw any evidence of drug use or drug smuggling whilst at sea, though once had an emergency call to get myself across to Rotterdam to fill in for a Norwegian mate who had been sacked in Immingham for being as high as a kite wandering along the jetty doing the "hey man" stuff to the shore staff.
On arrival on board in Rotterdam found the mates cabin turned upside down by Dutch drugs squad who had been called in by the company to find if any of the sacked guys drugs were still present, they discovered his stash of cannabis tablets.
Rgds
J.A

[Des Jenkins]

Hi John
Austraiia is now one of the biggest importers of Cocaine. The police have just caught a few blokes with one $billion worth of cocaine, they where recruited by a drug cartel to pick the drugs up out at sea. The reason they where caught was that someone reported them buying two small trawlers for cash. They must be completely stupid as only about a month ago they picked up others who had bought a Super yacht for cash.
Des

[James Curry]

Drugs!!! only time I really got violent on a ship was while on a UASC ship Ibn Malik. I had occassion to pop up to my cabin during my 12/4 afternoon watch.
I entered my cabin only to find the Pakastini steward had my matteress off my bunk and he was stashing bags of weed in the void space. I went ballistic and if it had not been for the 2nd engineer I am sure I would have killed this fcuker. We were due to dock in Tiawan,Kaohsiung the next morning.
Tiawan it can be the death penalty for drugs smuggling.
The old man tried to calm things down saying the drugs would be dumped at sea , so no harm down. ******** to that I said and insisted shore side customs got involved. He said no way, so I said either you tell customs or I will and those bags remain on board.
Radio message sent ahead asking for customs to be onboard on arrival. The steward was removed and never did find out what happened to him. The Narc dogs came onboard and found a stash of drugs in various other other cabins.
A new crew flew out to join the ship before we left port.
Think there was a hefty fine imposed on the ship & company.
The oldman pulled me in the bar and said have you any idea what trouble you caused me and the company!!! seriously I said personally I could not give a fcuk what trouble it caused you or United Arab Shipping Company.
I knew my card was marked so on arrival home was called into the office got a written warning, demanded a copy and took it to a lawyer friend. I left but shall we say I got a golden hand shake. Had a job within a week and never looked back.