Cruise ship voyages are well known for attracting an older audience as they have both the time and money to spend on board cruises - and two elderly British passengers have just hit the headlines after a stash of cocaine was allegedly found in their suitcases.
Cruise ship passengers have been arrested after allegedly smuggling £2 million of cocaine on a Caribbean voyage. The elderly British couple, 70, and 72, had 9kg of the illegal drug hidden in their suitcases which was found when their cabin was searched. The discovery was made on a Marco Polo cruise ship, run by Cruise & Maritime Voyages. The cruise ship had visited the Caribbean on a 33-day journey before docking in Lisbon, Portugal.
Following a tip-off from the UK’s National Crime Agency, police searched the couple’s belongings.
The cocaine was found hidden in false bottoms in four suitcases apparently belonging to the elderly pair, who had paid £3,000 each for their cruise tickets.
The duo - who have not been named - are now being held on suspicion of international drug smuggling. They have appeared in court and it is not yet known whether they admit guilt or have some other explanation for the find.
Vitor Ananais, who led the operation for Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria, said: “We believe the couple were given the drugs in a Caribbean island.
“We do not know for sure where the cocaine was going to be brought ashore. “The couple were not at all showy and blended in well because most of the other passengers on the liner were elderly.”
In a statement, Policia Judiciaria said: “In the cabin that was occupied by the suspects, four suitcases (were found) in whose structures was concealed a high amount of product, more specifically cocaine."
The force said following the arrests: “This action, which was supported by the Maritime Police, is a result of the permanent exchange of information and cooperation between the Judicial Police and the competent authorities of the United Kingdom, in particular with the National Crime Agency.”
A cruise & Maritime Voyages spokesman told The Telegraph: “Cruise & Maritime Voyages is co-operating fully with the Portuguese police officials.
“Cruise & Maritime Voyages do not tolerate any criminal activity or anti-social behaviour on board their ships.”
Express.co.uk has contacted Cruise & Maritime Voyages for further comment on the incident
By Harriet Mallinson, Express
Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more
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