When you're sailing in the caribbean do you ever get stopped by the coast guard or whatever and have your boat

Question

checked for drugs? Or can you just sail around and not be bothered?

Answer 1

Haven't been bothered yet.

Answer 2

If your boat is American flagged, it can be stopped and boarded anywhere, anytime by the Coast Guard, unlike other law enforcement, there does not need to be any reasonable suspicion.  Also, any ship which enters another country's territorial waters can be stopped and boarded by that country.

Answer 3

I use to be the one stopping boats in the Caribbean.  A US flag vessel can be stopped anywhere at anytime.  It's considered a border search.  No search warrant is necessary.  Foreign flag vessels can be searched without home country's permission if vessel is hovering near US waters in a suspicious manner.  In other areas of the Caribbean, the USCG asked home country's permission to conduct a search.  It's almost always granted.  A trouble free search will only take 30 to 60 minutes.  Don't try to run.  Just like car chases, you will be stopped.

Answer 4

Have cruised the Carribean from florida to Grenada Only time the  coast guard checked me was florida straits> They fly over you in the Bahamas>It's the countrys waters your entering that boards you>Best have all papers>Correct and NO contrada band of any kind or you can lose your boat and jail time>Spent 10yrs cruising no problem glade to see the Coast Guard they saved our as= from hostiles that didn't want us in there waters or islands>Best be armed but some countrys have issues with arms so check them out before you travel>>Think safety and don't anchor alone>And stay away from shore as local can swim out to your boat>Long story but have had a great life>Bahamas is the Best cruising>