Urata Shipping boss – ‘All vessels unknowingly traffic marijuana in Vanuatu’

August 27, 2025 9:38 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Mavuku Tokona.

Owner of Urata Shipping John Amos recently addressed how domestic vessels are being used to transport marijuana around Vanuatu. The Member of Parliament (MP) made these comments also as a victim to this drug trade since his former ship Captain Assak Takau and two other crew members were caught in possession of drugs by police in October last year.

According to the Tongoa MP, the shipping routes are a drug superhighway for many islands, one in particular is Epi.

“It happens to every ship, every island has marijuana, we didn’t know, and everyone knows South Epi is the place for marijuana,” he said.

The Urata Shipping boss recalled how he warned his former captain and crew not to engage in criminal activity and during the sting operation late last year by the Vanuatu Police Force, MP Amos was informed prior to the drug bust and welcomed the police presence.

“We welcome the police to check; I was there,” he said. “The police called me and said they were coming to check my ship. I said, ‘Come, all good.’ We support the police checks. It’s not the first time police have arrested the crew, every year they arrest crew members. Once police take them, we terminate them on the spot.

“The best thing we can do is warn them not to engage in criminal activities. The police told me they would go; I said, ‘I stret, I told you already not to engage in this.’ Long story short, I’m aware of it, and I support the police in stopping this.”

The trio that was arrested in 2024 had in possession a collective amount of over half a kilogram of marijuana and all received suspended sentences of 12 months along with community service work.

Urata Shipping also confirmed that the trio are no longer working for the shipping service and Urata Shipping has zero tolerance towards criminal activity, any staff involved in transportation of drugs will be terminated on the spot.

“We try to help in stopping this trafficking, Urata Shipping is working with the police in stopping this drug traffic,” MP Amos said.

The only other shipping business with an active phone number was Pierre Brunet Shipping, which couldn’t comment since its supervisor was overseas. However, the staff on site did mention that drugs may be transported via other vessels, but not with Pierre Brunet Shipping.

Attempts to speak with the police regarding drug operations on vessels were unsuccessful as well.