BBC News reports that a cruise passenger was jailed for seven years for smuggling 1.5 kilos of cocaine into the United Kingdom. 

The UK Border Agency arrested cruise passenger Ben Hartland as he disembarked the Black Watch cruise ship in Southampton last November.  He was busted after the custom officers found the drugs in his "rucksack."

BBC News has a less than flattering photo of the young man (left) after he was arrested for drug smuggling.  The cocaine has a street value over $500,000.

He reportedly was paid around $3,000 to smuggle the drugs.  A free cruise and $3,000 to be a "cruise drug mule?"  

We have commented that cruise ships are routinely used by both passengers and crew members to smuggle drugs.  Read our article: "Cruise Ships & Drug Smuggling"

Credits:

Photograph    BBC News