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Captain and 1st officer sentenced to 30 years in jail each for smuggling cocaine

The Croatian Captain Marko Bekavac and the First Officer Ali Albokhari of the 'Phoenician M' have been sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment in Turkey after being found guilty of smuggling 137 kg of cocaine on board the vessel. They were arrested along with eight crew members in Oct 2023 and detained in an Ankara prison ahead of their trial, which started in June. Bekavac has a 30-year record at sea with no reported offences. Both Bekavac and Albokhari were sentenced to 30 years each in jail after the cocaine was discovered hidden in the cargo on the coal-laden vessel, which had arrived in the port of Eregli from Columbia. Authorities searched the vessel and found 137 kg of cocaine hidden among the coal. Eight seafarers were acquitted on the same charges as the authorities focused on the responsibility of the captain and his first officer. The ship was detained for 11 days by the UK authorities in May 2023, who inspected the vessel, then named 'Clipper Palma' and found 11 deficiencies across a broad range of categories. The vessel was renamed the next month. Albokhari told the court during the trial that he had reported that the ship did not have sufficient security while it was being loaded in Colombia. He said he had advised the Turkish authorities of this when the vessel arrived in port. It also emerged in court that Bekavac had told the ship’s managers that security should be increased and additional cameras should be added for the Colombian port call. However, his requests were ignored. The Colombian authorities searched the vessel before it sailed and found a small amount of cocaine in the aft peak tank. The ship’s crew comprised 20 seafarers from the Philippines, Finland, Poland, and Russia when it was detained. After arresting the 10 suspects, the authorities released the vessel. The prosecutors were unable to provide any evidence linking the eight crew members to the cocaine, so they were acquitted. However, the state prosecutor said the master and first officer were responsible for managing the vessel. The Croatian government supported the crew during the trial and its ambassador was present at court.

150 kilograms of cocaine found on bulk carrier from Columbia

150 kilograms of cocaine were found by Customs Enforcement officers on board of the 'Phoenician M', at Eregli Port, where the ship had arrived on Oct 5, 2023, with a cargo of coal from Barranquilla on board. Three people were arrested due to undeclared and smuggling of cocaine allegation on board. In the same time, underwater inspection was conducted by police diver teams. As a result of further inspections, a total of 150 kilo cocaine was found on board. Search operations were still being carried out on board the vessel. A legal file was opened by the public prosecutor and narcotic departments. Crew statements were collected by the court. The vessel departure permission was cancelled by Harbour Master until the completion of the investigation. In the meantime, routine discharge operation were continued, and the vessel remained stationary at the Erdemir port of Eregli as of Oct 7.

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