Three passengers attempting to board Norwegian Jewel in Miami have been arrested on drug-related charges, including an Arizona surgeon accused of carrying several different controlled substances.
The arrests took place at PortMiami on 20th October 2026, as guests were preparing to embark on a five-night adults-only cruise to the Bahamas.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers detained the three passengers during an enforcement operation known as Operation Temptation, before transferring them to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Although all three were booked on the same sailing, authorities have not indicated that they knew one another or that the alleged offences were connected.
Surgeon Faces Three Felony Charges
Among those arrested was 38-year-old Dr Jacob Lee Henrichsen, an orthopaedic surgeon from Central, Arizona, who works at Mount Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford.
According to reporting by the Gila Herald, officers searching his luggage allegedly discovered a collection of products containing controlled substances.
These included THC gummies, gummies and capsules containing MDMA, pills, and chocolate bars containing psilocybin mushrooms.
Henrichsen was detained at Cruise Terminal B, where Norwegian Jewel was preparing to depart on a charter sailing organised by Temptation Cruises.
The five-night voyage was scheduled to visit Key West, Florida, and Nassau in the Bahamas.
Temptation Cruises specialises in adults-only holidays, offering charter voyages featuring adult-oriented entertainment, themed events and activities.
Court records indicate that Henrichsen faces three felony drug-related charges, including offences involving possession of controlled substances and drug trafficking.
He was subsequently released on a $10,000 bond. His lawyer has entered a not guilty plea and requested a jury trial.
The defence has also challenged how the quantities of the alleged drugs were calculated.
Henrichsen’s attorney argues that the weight attributed to the controlled substances is exaggerated because the products containing them are largely made up of other ingredients, including sugar and water.
The distinction could be significant in determining how the allegations are considered during legal proceedings.
Mount Graham Regional Medical Center has acknowledged the allegations involving its employee and said it is “taking the allegations seriously.”
Two other passengers were arrested during the same boarding operation.
Kimberly Shannon, 57, from Norton, Ohio, and Lori Watt, 51, from Plainfield, Illinois, were allegedly found carrying THC gummies and vaping products.
Both women face a felony charge of possession of controlled substances and were released on bonds of $2,500 each.
There has been no suggestion from investigators that the three passengers were travelling together or participating in a coordinated attempt to bring drugs aboard.
Norwegian Cruise Line directed media enquiries about the arrests to CBP.
It is not known whether the individuals will face any additional action from the cruise line, including possible restrictions on future bookings.
All three defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Strict Drug Rules Apply To Cruise Passengers
The arrests highlight the restrictions surrounding controlled substances on cruise ships, particularly when passengers are travelling from US states where certain cannabis products are legal.
Although recreational cannabis is permitted under Arizona state law, that does not mean passengers can bring THC products aboard an international cruise.
Norwegian Cruise Line prohibits marijuana and other illegal drugs, including products containing THC, regardless of whether they were legally purchased in a passenger’s home state.
Its prohibited-items guidance makes the restrictions clear to guests before they travel.
MDMA and psilocybin are also controlled substances under US federal law.
Passengers travelling on international itineraries can be subject to additional customs and border restrictions, making the possession of prohibited products particularly serious.
The Miami arrests are not isolated incidents.
In July 2026, a passenger aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady was arrested on suspicion of drug offences during a voyage towards Greece. The individual was subsequently deported to Spain.
A separate incident in Bermuda in July 2025 resulted in the arrest of four Carnival Cruise Line passengers on allegations involving possession and intent to distribute controlled substances. Items reportedly involved included THC vaping products, gummies and carfentanil.
Earlier that year, in January 2025, a former Florida deputy was arrested while attempting to board Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas.
Authorities alleged that the individual had intended to take narcotic pills aboard the ship for resale.
The latest arrests occurred before Norwegian Jewel departed Miami, demonstrating that passengers can face law enforcement action before even stepping aboard a cruise ship.
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