SAY NO - A SEAFARERS GUIDE TO LIFE WITHOUT DRUGS

We are all quite well informed about drugs. The terrible toll it takes of users, and carriers when caught; not to mention their families. There are regular news items of drug smugglers getting the death penalty and sometimes these becoming politicized; in the main, we all think it's not going to involve us personally. It does.

This package serves as a reminder. Drug smuggling is a very serious crime, with very serious consequences for the individuals concerned, their crewmates, their families, the vessel and owners. The temptation to smuggle drugs is great, due to the large sums of money involved, but the consequences of being caught are also huge.

It explains the damage a drug related incident can cause and identifies measures to prevent them. It shows how to improve the education of seafarers with regard to drugs:

• effective ways to stop drugs getting onboard
• how to carry out comprehensive drug searching of vessels both by ships staff and third parties
• how to deal with situations where a crew member is suspected of drug smuggling
• how to prevent crew members being accosted and recruited as potential drug smugglers and there after being blackmailed to continue this dreadful activity.

Furthermore, the package illustrates how South America has become a transport and service hub for the drug industry and how good awareness to drugs trafficking and its dire consequences can stop the destructive influence it has on seafarers and their families. Just say no and be safe.