August 2005 CIA Report On Aruba Cruise Ship Drug Traffic

Couriers on cruise ships smuggle from 2 to 20 pounds of cocaine or heroin, into and out of Aruba, either concealed in their luggage or taped to their bodies. This is a hot spot for cruise ship drug smuggling, and is very dangerous. In the past, some cruise-ship personnel have smuggled drugs through Aruba.

The proximity of Aruba to South America, a high standard of living in Aruba, and an underdeveloped law enforcement infrastructure make the country an attractive meeting place for South American, European, and U.S. drug traffickers.

Date: November 9, 2005
Drugs: Cocaine
Amount: 5 pounds
Cash Seized: $90,000
Number Arrested: 2
Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Lines
Cruise Ship: Legend
Details: The passenger in cabin 6144 onboard Carnival Cruise Line's Legend, Dwight Whitehead, was arrested in Port Everglades, Florida, after tossing overboard a duffle bag with the cocaine inside, attached to a lifejacket, so it could be recovered in the water by an accomplice in a boat.

Date: August 17, 2005
Drugs: Heroine
Amount: 13 pounds
Cash Seized: $24,775
Number Arrested: 2
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Cruise Ship: Adventure Of The Seas
Details: Two of the individuals arrested, Maureen Erika Tingey and Juan Gonzalez-Sanchez were the occupants of a cabin of the Royal Caribbean Cruise cruise ship Adventure of the Sea. A CBP K-9 search of TIGNEY and GONZALEZ’s cabin resulted in the seizure of two body suits which further concealed the heroin

Date: June 10, 2005
Cruise Line: Various
Cruise Ship: Various
Drugs: Cocaine & Heroin
Amount: Several Hundred Pounds
Value: $ Unknown
Number Arrested: 45
Details: Drug dealers were recruiting passengers and employees on cruise ships to smuggle cocaine. Drugs were found on ships docking at the Port of Miami, Key West and Port Everglades. Agents found drugs on at least 20 cruise liners.

Date: May 11, 2005
Cruise Line: Various
Cruise Ship: Various
Drugs: Cocaine
Amount: 40 pounds
Value: $5.6 Million
Number Arrested: 10
Details: Members of the drug ring and its couriers would travel to Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa to acquire drugs coming from the Caribbean and Central America through cruise ships and cargo liners. According to the arrest affidavit, the cocaine would be hidden in refrigeration compartments, luggage, sandals.

Date: January 06, 2005
Drugs: Cocaine, Marijuana, Fantasy (GHB)
Amount: Unknown
Value: $?
Arrested: Dr. Matthew D. Pate DDS, Paul Abrahan Levine, John Peter Schneider, Jonathan Mayer Lipschutz, Christopher Kew Wong, David Ognibene, Steven M. Beatty, Joseph Francis Grasso, Kaleb E. Simpson, Bethany Lynn (Valachovic) Waldo, Matthew Lansing Swift
Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Lines
Cruise Ship: Celebration
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