Mexico alert – smuggling of illegal narcotics – risk of ship detention and crew arrest (5.582)

London P&I highlights recent ship detentions and crew arrests in Mexico linked to alleged smuggling of illegal narcotics. The circular also warns of the risk of lengthy pre-trial detention and encourages members to seek guidance on preventative measures before loading and before arrival in Mexico.

We note that the concerns raised include cases where narcotics were found on ships arriving in Mexican ports, as well as situations where crew had reported discoveries to the local authorities in advance.