Israeli Sailor Held in Colombia, Accused of Trafficking 245 kg of Cocaine

By Ilanit Chernick

An Israeli sailor en route from Panama to Jamaica has been detained by Colombian authorities on suspicion of trafficking over 200 kilograms of cocaine, allegedly found on his yacht.

The sailor, identified as 39-year-old Roy Erez, was apparently on a round the world yachting trip.

In a Facebook post last week, his sister Karin Erez Azulay said that her brother had been forced at gunpoint to take on an unknown passenger by pirates, believed to be a wanted criminal.

Colombian authorities later boarded the ship and arrested Erez together with the man.

The two were taken to San Andres, a Colombian island just off the Nicaraguan coast.

Several Israeli news outlets reported Colombian authorities as saying they had found a total of 245 kg of cocaine on the yacht.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Erez is being held in San Andres and had been interrogated by Colombian authorities.

“Israel’s consul in Bogota, Yuval Sharabi, spoke with him on the phone and made sure that he was okay,” the ministry said.