The International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has warned ship agents about the re-emergence of a people-smuggling racket.
Traffickers are using agents to cover the movement of illegal migrants, it said.
"The basic pattern of the scam is for owners or managers to ask an agent to attend a vessel's call, and to provide assistance with crew changes," it added.
"Usually the owner or manager will be previously unknown to the agent.
