The previous weekend up to a dozen of passengers that were to board at an Electronic Dance Music (EDM) cruise were arrested in Port Canaveral for the possession of illicit drugs. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and Port Canaveral conducted inspections prior to boarding, using drug-sniffing dogs, luggage searches and other methods to detect illicit substances, resulting in multiple arrests.
Specifically, according to EDM’s statement, prior to their boarding on Holy Ship! the suspects received misdemeanor possession and drug paraphernalia charges. Two individuals were charged with trafficking for alleged possession of larger quantities of MDMA.
As announced, it is the second year in a row that authorities have found large numbers of drug-related incidents before the EDM cruise events.
Moreover, in 2018, police detained approximately four dozen passengers from two cruises on the possibility of drug possession, including multiple individuals who were accused of intending to sell drugs on board.
Usually, rave attendees are eager to use higher rates of MDMA, ketamine and other psychoactive substances. Many are the accidents that have occurred because of drug overdose. EDM festivals have been many times cancelled because of drug-related deaths.
For instance, in 2016 the city of Buenos Aires banned large EDM concerts altogether after five club-goers died of suspected overdoses.
Because of this years drug incident, the cruises’ organisers published a statement in which they quoted
Forget about your right to privacy … Every person and each piece of luggage will be inspected by dogs trained to detect explosives and contraband
In a statement, vessel operator Norwegian Cruise Lines emphasized that it does not permit illicit substances on board.
We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to prohibited items aboard our ships, within our terminals, or at our destinations,” NCL said. “Along with the organizers of the event, we are cooperating fully with local law enforcement to ensure the welfare of all guests attending the festival.
