DRUG TRAFFICKING: ITF Raises Alarm Over Increasing Number Of Seafarers’ Detention 

Crew criminalisation in Turkey is becoming an increasing concern for vessel operators and maritime authorities as another three seafarers face drug charges in the country.

Three seafarers, two South Korean and one Filipino have been detained on drug offences by Turkish police it has emerged, as maritime authorities seek a meeting with the ministry to resolve issues around the criminalisation of crew.

Some 13kg of cocaine were found on the 62,500 dwt bulk carrier Grandis, owned and operated by South Korean headquartered Pan Ocean, with the master Sang Yeong Jeong, 65-years old, chief officer Jin Ho Hwang, 47, and bosun Allan Labnao Salcedo, 45, all detained on 30 July.

Seafarer’s section co-ordinator at the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Fabrizio Barcellona told Seatrade Maritime News: “We are not certain where the crew are being held, on past experience it’s either in a prison or at a police station, the information is not clear. We are waiting for the legal team from the P&I Club [NorthStandard] to report back to us.”

Union representatives on the ground in Turkey said the case is still under investigation by the prosecutor, which means that there is a ‘confidentiality order’ on the file and as a result information is difficult to get.

“The ITF has sent a letter of concern regarding this case to the authorities in Türkiye, we are in touch with the crew lawyers and awaiting withdrawal of the confidentiality order to get more detailed information,” the inspector told Seatrade Maritime News.

Meanwhile, the wife of long-term detainee Ally Albokhari, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison earlier this year for ‘negligence’ when drugs were found aboard a Turkish owned vessel, the Phoenician M.

Elena Albokhari, who was in London last week in meetings with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and ITF said that the teams in London were working hard to secure the release of her husband.

Elena Albokhai, who is originally from Russia, but now resides in Finland, said that with Ally’s family from Syria and her family in Moscow she is very isolated, and she called for more support for families.

“All organisations should have more contact with the families of those arrested, maybe a committee that would have more contact with those families, to help them, because it has taken me two years to learn what to do, and to raise money to travel to see my husband,” said Elena.

Ally Albokhari, meanwhile, remains without the medication he needs to control a liver condition for which he was being treated before he joined the Marshall Islands registered vessel.

“The authorities in Turkey say that he has allergies, but I know he has a health problem,” confirmed Elena, who referenced the recent release of Capt Marko Bekevac, a Croatian national.

Bekevac was released suddenly, without prior notification, in August after being sentenced to 30-years imprisonment, along with Ally.

The captain was released, ahead of a Turkish Supreme Court ruling on the case, which could see both men ultimately released, following the prosecutor’s decision to drop the charges of negligence on which they were convicted.

Maritime sources suggest that the Croatian government swapped a Turkish drug smuggler, who was arrested under an international arrest warrant in Croatia, for the Captain.