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The recent seizure of over a tonne of cocaine hidden on a containership in the tiny southern port serves as another stark reminder that there are no drug-free ports in Brazil
Record cocaine seizure
In the second week of December 2024, Federal Police officers recovered 1,021 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride from a Liberian-flagged containership docked at Itapoá. This incident marks a record drug seizure for this small, two-berth container terminal in the southern state of Santa Catarina. The vessel had arrived from Santos and was scheduled to call at three different Brazilian ports before heading to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, Spain, and then on to Tanger Med in Morocco.
The Federal Police reported that the seizure followed the identification of suspicious activity involving a smaller ship which was transferring packages suspected of containing illicit substances to the container carrier. Surveillance footage from the port terminal’s CCTV system confirmed these suspicions. After a thorough two-day search aboard the liner, the federal law enforcement agency eventually discovered packages of cocaine concealed in a compartment of the vessel. Five crewmembers of Filipino and Montenegrin nationality were arrested in the act and indicted for drug trafficking. Following the drug interception and the arrest of the seafarers, the ship was allowed to resume its voyage.
In Brazil, the penalty for this crime ranges from five to fifteen years in prison, along with a fine. Under specific circumstances, such as in cases of transnational drug trafficking, the prison sentence can be increased by one-third to two-thirds, as outlined in this guide.
A stark reminder for shipowners
This incident is yet another reminder to shipowners and operators that there are no drug-free ports in Brazil, whether along the coast or in the inland waterways of the Amazon. While larger port complexes such as Santos, Paranaguá, and Rio de Janeiro rank among the top exporters of cocaine concealed within shipping containers and ships, all Brazilian ports – regardless of their location and size – are susceptible to varying degrees to the actions of sophisticated and powerful criminal organisations.
Visiting captains and crews should, therefore, be mindful of the lingering risk of ships being contaminated with illicit drugs, which can result in significant financial loss and reputational damage and, more critically, criminalisation of crewmembers. All Brazilian ports should be regarded as potentially at risk of drug contamination. It is essential for crews to adhere closely to the Ship Security Plan (SSP) and always remain vigilant while at anchor, alongside, during cargo operations, and prior to departure. Drug traffickers often assess a ship’s apparent security level as a crucial factor in deciding whether to target it for drug smuggling; therefore, implementing and maintaining robust security measures can make a vessel less appealing to these criminals.
This guide offers practical information regarding Brazil’s legal framework on illicit drugs, port and ship security, law enforcement protocols, common methods of shipborne drug trafficking, seizure statistics, and strategies for prevention and response to the ongoing drug threat.
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