Argentina authorities arrested a Filipino cook after seizing 469,500 kilos of high-purity cocaine aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier CECI docked at the Vicentin company pier in San Lorenzo.

Media reports say the ship’s cook Jonathan Caputero, confessed to his role in the drug smuggling effort. The other 20 Filipino crew are also detained and under investigation. The ship’s captain reportedly alerted‍ authorities after noticing suspicious bags in the vessel’s refrigeration chambers. The captain reportedly contacted the shipowner, who then relayed the information to the appropriate authorities.

The Customs Collection and ​Control Agency (ARCA) estimates the street value of the seized cocaine to be approximately $6 million in the large-scale drug trafficking market. Patricia Bullrich, the nation’s Security Minister, stated that the $6 million worth of drugs bricks will automatically increase to $20 million once they reach Europe.

Initial investigation revealed that the ship had traveled from Dubai, making a stop at Pontón Arrogante in international waters of the Río de la Plata before ​arriving ‍in San Lorenzo. The ship was en route to the Netherlands with a declared cargo of sunflower pellets.

The cocaine was discovered in a‍ refrigerator on the merchant ship CECI, specifically within‍ a compartment containing food​ for the crew. Authorities noted that the packages were marked with images of crowns, suggesting a possible connection to a specific drug cartel.

This seizure highlights the ongoing challenges Argentina faces as a hotspot for‍ international ​drug trafficking. The case also serves as a reminder of the “blind hook” contamination technique, which could indicate port security breaches or collusion. 

The “blind hook” method is a technique used to introduce drugs into legitimate cargo. It involves breaking‌ customs seals on containers,‌ inserting the drugs, and resealing the‍ containers ‌with similar seals. ‍ While not explicitly mentioned in the initial reports of this specific seizure, ‍the incident recalls a larger problem of drug smuggling within the Rosario region.

The Concerned Seafarers of the Philippines (CSP) and International Seafarers Action Center (ISAC), backed by Bayan Muna, asked the Supreme Court yesterday, May 6, to declare unconstitutional Section 59 of the Republic Act 12021 or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers (MCFS), which aims to crack down on ambulance chasers who prey on seafarers and discourage shipowners from hiring Filipino seafarers.

Counsel for the petitioners Atty. Neri Colmenares filed the petition challenging Section 59 of the law, which requires seafarers to post a bond in order to receive the full amount of compensation awarded to them by the NLRC arbiters or NCMB arbitrators.

The specific provision states that, “Pending an appeal or judicial review, a writ of execution on items any disputed amount determined to be legally due the seafarer, and the damages, including moral damages, exemplary damages, nominal damages, attorney’s fees and other similar awards shall only be issued if the judgment obligee posts a sufficient bond to ensure the full restitution of those amounts and the bond shall be maintained by the obligee until final resolution of the appeal or judicial review: Provided, That in the event the seafarer ultimately prevails on appeal or judicial review, the losing party shall immediately reimburse the total amount paid by the seafarer for the cost of the bond. However, if the seafarer loses, no such reimbursement shall be made.

“Under our current laws, compensation won by land-based workers in the Philippines are immediately accessible to the workers if they won their case in the DOLE and NLRC. Why the different treatment to sea-based workers like seafarers?,” Colmenares asked.

The petition also questioned the MCFS provision in Section 59 that uses the Aksyon Fund allocated to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the GAA for OFWs, to pay the seafarers’ bond.

“The use of DMW Aksyon Fund violates the constitutional provision that public fund should be used for public purposes as the bond will ultimately benefit foreign ship owners or employers and not the seafarers. Further, this will take away much needed funds from our OFWs. Kaya wala naman talagang benepisyo ang paggamit ng Aksyon Fund kasi kukunin din lang yon sa pondo na para sa OFWs” Colmenares argued.

According to the MCFS “The DMW, through the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo Para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan (AKSYON Fund), may provide financial assistance to the seafarer depending on the final determination of maritime disability grading under Section 57 of this Act for the payment of premiums of the bond either in full or in part. Pertinent guidelines for assistance in the payment of premiums, including the availment process, amount, or length of validity shall be issued by DMW, after consultation with stakeholders, including the DOLE, NLRC, seafarers unions, manning agencies, shipowners, or their representatives.”

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has formally commenced the Second Independent Evaluation (IE) of the Philippine Seafarer’s Identity Document (SID) in compliance with International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 185 or the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003, as amended.

The evaluation, scheduled from 05 to 16 May 2025, is spearheaded by Dr. John William M. Campbell, an esteemed ILO Evaluator and global authority in International Labor Standards and Biometrics & Identity Management. The review encompasses a thorough assessment of the country’s SID issuance, authentication, and data protection systems to verify adherence to international security and identity verification protocols.

As part of the process, Dr. Campbell will conduct on-site audits at MARINA’s Regional Offices in Iloilo and Cebu, ensuring that field-level operations align with central system standards and international best practices.

In her welcome remarks, MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan emphasized the importance of the initiative:

“It is our responsibility to provide seafarers with secure, reliable, and globally recognized identity documents. This evaluation is a critical step in affirming and enhancing our systems to better serve Filipino seafarers and support their mobility across borders.”

Dr. Campbell acknowledged the agency’s continued advancements, stating:

“In 2019, I was deeply impressed by MARINA’s dedication and the robustness of its SID system—by far, the most secure and best implemented in the world. Today, I am equally impressed, particularly with the comprehensive documentation submitted in 2024.”

The Philippine SID, embedded with biometric and machine-readable features, is a vital travel document facilitating the smooth transit of Filipino seafarers through international ports and borders. The outcome of this independent evaluation is expected to reaffirm MARINA’s compliance with ILO C185 and bolster national efforts to safeguard and empower the Filipino maritime workforce.

Source: MARINA