New drug smuggling concerns from authorities in Colombia

According to the report, in 2024, one of Colombian Highest Maritime Authority (DIMAR)’s principal concerns is the increasing number of cases involving drugs smuggled in containers of fruit, as well as in coal and scrap cargoes. The port authorities in Santa Marta and Turbo have raised special concern about the discovery of drugs in reefer containers carrying fruits, particularly bananas from the Urabá and Magdalena regions, as evidenced by the aforementioned seizure in Southampton.

Moreover, bulk cargoes such as coal and scrap are also of significant concern, as they are frequently targeted by drug smugglers to conceal large quantities of illegal substances. In the past two years, the anti-narcotic police have uncovered substantial amounts of cocaine disguised as “fake coal” and hidden within other bulk cargoes, necessitating the use of special alkaloid tests to detect the presence of drugs. Additionally, there have been several cases of drug smuggling reported within scrap cargoes, where metal structures designed to hide the illegal substances have been overlooked by control officers and crew members.

As Colombia’s coca leaf crops and cocaine production has exceeded historical records in 2023, the illegal exports of this substance have also been rising. In view of this phenomenon, the anti-narcotic police suspect that gangs may be storing drugs in hidden locations close to the main public and private terminals in order to reduce exposure to being discovered while transporting the drugs by road. This new behavior appears to be assisted in some cases by the collaboration of personnel at the terminals, which allows the drugs to be introduced especially during night hours.

Moreover, one of the biggest concerns for local authorities is that the above situation may be causing an increase in bribery, threats, and extortions of port officers or security personnel of the Terminals, which could potentially be extended also to crew members. For the above reasons, it is recommended to exercise high precaution if crew members decide to go ashore during its call at any Colombian port.

Please be aware that the most common strategies/methods currently used locally by drug traffickers include: 

• Hiding relatively small amounts of drugs in certain remote locations onboard (e.g., cabins, funnels, decks, store room, or engine room) with collaboration of stevedores or even crew members. In some cases, visitors (with or without collaboration of the crew) board the vessel and quickly hide these packages in certain remote locations.

• Placing illegal substances within sealed containers before loading. One of the most common methods currently used by drug traffickers all around the world is to break into containers and hide drugs within the cargo, replacing then the security seals (usually this method involves certain level of collaboration from the terminal operators and/or the cargo agents). Most targeted containers are reefers.

• Burying packages with drugs within bulk cargoes. This method allows high quantities of illegal substances to be moved at any time, usually within the stow.

• Placing camouflaged drugs within bulk cargoes (especially coal cargoes). Drug dealers develop new methods to camouflage drugs within these cargoes every day, managing even to simulate coal texture and shape to traffic drugs without been noticed by security officers or crews.

• Introducing bags filled with drugs in the sea chests and/or attaching them to the vessel´s hull, rudders, anchors, propeller, vents, or water inlets; using divers while the vessel is berthed or at anchorage.

• Even though this appears to be a modality used less nowadays thanks to the effective measures often taken by shipowners and the navy, it is still recommended to be aware of it, maintaining security precautions and following the recommendations provided in this report.

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