I’d like to hold on a little bit on the situation with the arrest of the vessel “Lady Boss” in the Spanish harbour with Ukrainian seafarers aboard.
I’ll remind you the situation. During the inspection aboard there were found 600 sacks of cannabis, total weight 18 tonnes.
It’s a clear thing, that the whole crew has been detained and presently the crew members’ relatives are attempting to call for our International Affairs Ministry as well as for everyone who is able to assist in rescuing of the Ukrainian seafarers from Spain.
As my practice shows, there is a chance to be released, but not everyone has it.
The drug trafficking, contraband are considered to be an offence punishable by law worldwide, therefore the whole crew is currently being detained in custody.
According to the relatives, the Ukrainian seafarers have just arrived to the vessel when it had been in the harbour, and hadn’t the slightest idea of the cargo type.
I’m rather skeptical to such claims, taking into account that it’s hardly to be possible, especially if it goes about the field officers. The Master as well as the officers are always aware of the cargo type aboard, and there can’t be any shipment without their either consent or acquiescence.
As for the rank and file. Here I can believe that the guys were not aware, they are hardly to be informed. But in this case I wouldn’t have expected that the case could be settled down by deplomatic way.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Ukraine is rather to declare it’s intentions, than realize them. The scheme is pretty simple. The Foreign Affairs Ministry is extremely concerned about the situation and it has been taken under personal control. The casual run of things. The next step would be to provide a free lawyer for assistance, but as my practice proves it, after such assistance the seafarers get real detention terms. Very vivid examples of such detention terms are those in Greece and Turkey.
The recommendations I would have currently given to the seafarers and their relatives
- Don’t give any testimony until you lawyer arrival
- As fast as possible to hire the Spanish lawyer specialising in criminal offences. It’s extremely important for the lawyer to be well known.
- To coordinate the case together with the Foreign Affairs Ministry. I’m not quite sure of its efficiency, but it will keep the case at least loud and not-forgotten.
My forecast
If accurate and efficient legal aid is provided, the rank and file of the “Lady Boss” vessel will have chance to be released.
As for the field officers, I’m not so optimistic. If to trace back the practice of such cases, the officers are very rare to avoid liability.
P.S. But there is always variant to cooperate with investigation. Who knows who is really standing behind this trafficking? Theoretically it’s possible.
Fight and endeavour!