Turkish officials unexpectedly released Croatian Captain Marko Bekavac on August 8, ending his nearly two-year imprisonment following a 30-year sentence for cocaine discovered on his vessel. The 62-year-old captain, along with his family, attributed the release to relentless diplomatic efforts by Croatia.

Bekavac was freed and flown back to Croatia, 10 months after his conviction, though his first officer, Ali Albokhari, remains incarcerated in Turkey, also serving a 30-year term while awaiting an appeal. The incident began in October 2023 when the Panama-flagged bulker Phoenician M, under Bekavac’s command, docked at Eregli, Turkey, after departing from Barranquilla, Colombia. A search revealed 137 kg of cocaine concealed in the cargo, leading to the arrest of Bekavac, Albokhari, and eight crewmembers, the latter of whom were later cleared. The ship was subsequently released.

Bekavac had previously reported inadequate security in Colombia and notified authorities about a small cocaine find in the aft peak tank before leaving. However, Turkish authorities held him accountable as the ship’s master, asserting that he and Albokhari, as senior officers, were liable for the drugs’ presence.

Back in Croatia, Bekavac’s family garnered support from President Zoran Milanović, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, and various ministries, while his legal team pursued an ongoing appeal with the Turkish Supreme Court. With 44 years at sea, Bekavac maintains his innocence, claiming no evidence tied him to the smuggling, and was shocked to be released instead of transferred to another prison.

The case has been cited by several groups as an instance of unjust seafarer criminalization lacking proof.

Source: https://maritime-executive.com/article/turkey-releases-captain-jailed-for-30-years-after-finding-cocaine-in-cargo