Human traffickers exploit crew change crisis to trick agents

© Denys Yelmanov

As if the maritime crew-change crisis wasn’t bad enough, human traffickers are now exploiting the situation, reports Maritime Executive.

Traffickers are approaching ship agents, as shipping company staff, requesting arrangements be made for a crew change, including bookings and lodging. In fact, the ‘crew’ are migrants which disappear after the arrangements have been made, warned the International Transport Intermediaries Club. Agents can then face financial losses from unpaid hotel bills, fines and penalties from immigration authorities.