The case of Ali Albokhari – Fighting seafarer criminalisation and unjust detention

The case of Ali Albokhari – Fighting seafarer criminalisation and unjust detention
Nick Savvides November 4, 2026 https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/crewing/the-case-of-ali-albokhari-figh...

Seafaring is one of the world’s most dangerous professions but criminalisation should not be one of the dangers crew face

Shipping is the lifeblood of the global economy and shipping depends on its seafarers, but right now those same seafarers cannot depend on some of the jurisdictions that they serve to protect them.

In this episode of the Seatrade Maritime News Podcast we’re investigating the looming risk of crew criminalisation, the danger described by 90% of seafarers worldwide as the threat they feared above all else. A recent survey by InterManager, the ship management association, has compiled 118 known cases over the past three decades, with a peak of 23 cases in 2023.

We are highlighting the issue through the case of Ali Albokhari and Marko Bekavac, two seafarers who were imprisoned on drug smuggling charges in 2024 with little to no evidence to support their convictions. It represents a potential watershed moment for the protection and safety of seafarers worldwide.

It is a story about two seafarers, but it resonates across the maritime industry and beyond because, as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez points out, shipping is an international industry facilitating global trade. If seafarers are to be protected, the response requires proactive action across the entire ecosystem.

Along with the IMO Secretary General the episode features perspectives from the ITF, the Mission to Seafarers, and Human Rights at Sea. It explores alleged gaps in the investigation, the challenges of securing due process across jurisdictions and the distance between international guidelines and their enforcement. You also hear from Ali’s wife, Elena, on the profound impact of his imprisonment on their family.