Drug gangs change tactics to target bulk carriers

Drug smugglers are increasingly targeting bulkers at northern Brazil ports to carry illicit cargoes, using hiding places on the deck, according to an insurer.

The development marks a shift in tactics and focus from traditional hotspot ports in the south-east of the country that have been used to ship drugs to Europe and Asia, Brazmar — NorthStandard protection and indemnity club’s Brazil correspondent — said.

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Brazil has a long land border with the world’s biggest cocaine producers — Colombia, Peru and Bolivia — and busy ports along its 8,000 km coastline that gangs look to infiltrate to send their product overseas, think tank InSight Crime said.

Although not a major producer, Brazil is behind only Colombia as a source of shipped cocaine seized by law enforcement in other parts of the world, according to the United Nation’s World Drugs Report for 2024.

More cocaine was seized in Asia and Africa that was shipped from Brazil than from any other country.

Brazmar said it had identified a trend for gangs to use ports in the north and north-east regions more than before and advised shipowners to take extra precautions.

“Due to their strategic geographical locations and growing roles as hubs for commodity exportation, these regions have become focal points for smugglers exploiting maritime trade routes,” Brazmar said.

It said the gangs use different tactics in the northern ports.

In the south-east, smugglers usually hide drugs in containers or attach them to the outside of the hull, including in sea chests below the waterline.

While the same areas are targeted in the northern ports, the correspondent said “larger bulk carriers are frequently targeted, with smugglers also utilising the vessel’s deck, including void spaces, to hide the drugs”.

Brazmar said that crews questioned over discovered drug caches were normally taken ashore and a crew change was necessary. They generally stayed for 30 to 45 days before they were allowed to leave the country if they were cleared of any connection to the stash.

It said arrests in the northern parts of the country were rarely and usually reserved for “extreme cases”.

Brazmar said the changing tactics meant void spaces should be secured with tamper-proof seals.

It also advised good lighting on a ship, potentially using private security and security camera monitoring, which could help to release a vessel and crew if drugs were found aboard.