Brazilian Passenger Arrested for Cocaine Smuggling Aboard MSC Magnifica

Australian authorities have arrested a Brazilian man, Adriano Gustavo Leonardi Thiem, aged 48, on charges of smuggling cocaine aboard the MSC Magnifica cruise ship. The accusation arose while the ship was docked at Athol Bay in New South Wales during its ongoing world cruise.

Law enforcement officers, prompted by an onboard inspection that yielded a positive result for cocaine, searched the vessel and uncovered approximately US$3 million worth of the drug hidden in 28 packages concealed within the ceiling of Thiem’s cabin. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) indicated that this amount could have been divided into about 10,000 individual street deals.

In addition to the cocaine, investigators found packing materials typically used to hide drugs from customs inspections. Further investigation revealed evidence on Thiem’s phone indicating potential involvement in drug trafficking.

Thiem faces serious charges, including importing and possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, both of which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment under Australian law.

MSC Cruises has confirmed its cooperation with Australian law enforcement as they assist in the investigation. The MSC Magnifica previously visited ports in Brazil and Argentina before arriving in Australia.

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