Arizona Surgeon Among Three Arrested Boarding Norwegian Jewel in Miami
Key Aspects:
Three different cruise guests were arrested at PortMiami on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, on drug charges.
All three guests were attempting to board Norwegian Jewel for a 5-night adult-only Bahamas cruise, but there is no indication they knew each other.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection made the arrests as part of Operation Temptation before the suspects were turned over to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Three individuals, including an Arizona orthopedic surgeon, have been arrested at PortMiami for drug charges as they attempted to board the same cruise ship on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The arrests were made as part of Operation Temptation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
According to the Gila Herald, 38-year-old Dr. Jacob Lee Henrichsen of Central, Arizona, was arrested after his luggage was inspected and found to contain THC gummies; several MDMA-containing gummies, pills, and capsules; and psilocybin mushroom chocolate bars. He is employed by Mount Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford, Arizona, which has stated it is “taking the allegations seriously.”
Henrichsen was attempting to board Norwegian Jewel for a 5-night “Temptation Caribbean Cruise” to Key West and Nassau, and the arrest report confirms he was arrested at PortMiami’s Cruise Terminal B.
Temptation Cruises is a company that organizes adult-only charter sailings, described as “the ultimate adults-only playground at sea” with judgement-free zones and events geared toward different preferences.
While THC products are legal in Arizona, MDMA is not, and neither is psilocybin. Furthermore, none of the products are legal to take onboard cruise ships, which Norwegian Cruise Line makes very clear as the #1 point in its “What can’t I bring onboard?” FAQ.
Miami-Dade court records show that Henrichsen now faces three felony drug-related charges, including possession of controlled substances and drug trafficking. He was released on $10,000 bond and his attorney has entered a plea of not guilty with a request for a jury trial.
Henrichsen’s attorney is arguing that the alleged amounts of illicit substances in the gummies, candies, and chocolate have been overstated because of the composition of the items, which are largely sugar and water.
Two other cruise guests, Kimberly Shannon of Norton, Ohio and Lori Watt of Plainfield, Illinois were also arrested during the same operation, also while attempting to board the 2,376-guest Norwegian Jewel.
The 57-year-old Shannon and the 51-year-old Watt were both carrying THC gummies and vapes. Both women now face a felony charge for possession of controlled substances and each was released on $2,500 bond.
There is no indication that the three guests knew each other in any way or that their cases may be connected. Norwegian Cruise Line referred media questions to the CBP, though it is possible that all three individuals may face bans from the cruise line, preventing them from setting sail in the future.
All three individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Drug Arrests Not Uncommon
These are not the first drug-related arrests made as guests attempt to board cruise ships, and such incidents are not confined to Norwegian Jewel or PortMiami.
Cruise Hive reported in July 2026 that a guest onboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady was arrested on suspicion of drug charges while the ship was sailing to Greece, and ultimately the individual was deported back to his home country of Spain.
In July 2025, four Carnival Cruise Line guests were arrested in Bermuda on charges related to alleged possession and intent to distribute various drugs, including THC vapes and gummies as well as carfentanil.
A former Florida deputy was arrested while attempting to board Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas in January 2025, having been found allegedly trying to smuggle narcotic pills onboard to sell.
Arizona Surgeon Among Three Arrested Boarding Norwegian Jewel in Miami