Enchantment of the Seas

Two news stories recently on drugs aboard cruise ships suggest two very different types of drug problems.   U.S. Customs and Border Protection raided the MSC Poesia, on Jan. 4, prior to the ship departing on a “Jam Cruise” a floating music festival  featuring 44 performers and bands.  As reported by NBC Miami: “The raids resulted in 15 seizures of LSD, marijuana, mushrooms, hash oil, prescription drugs, Ecstasy, and drug paraphernalia, all in mostly small quantities.”

While these Feds were busting recreational users, drug-sniffing dogs found nearly $100,000 worth of cocaine and heroin aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Enchantment of the Seas, in Baltimore in a federal investigation of an employee smuggling ring.   As noted by Jim Walker of Cruise Law News “The real problem with drugs on cruise ships is when crime cartels use cruise ships to smuggle large quantities of cocaine and heroin.”  Earlier this week, the UK Border Agency and Serious Organised Crime Agency issued a warning about drug gangs using cruise ships to smuggle “multi-kilo loads” of drugs.    Drug gangs target cruise ships

Thanks to Irwin Bryan for passing along the article about the Jam Cruise bust.