Brazil Investigates 'Slave-Like' Conditions on Rescued Workboat Crew
Brazilian authorities are investigating reports of 'slave-like' conditions aboard the Latifa, a pollution control vessel found adrift off the coast of Amapa. The crew, consisting of one Belgian and seven Venezuelans, reported severe shortages of food and water, unhygienic conditions, and insect infestations. The vessel, built in 1945 and recently reflagged to Tanzania, had been drifting for over 20 days after a propulsion failure. The Brazilian Labor Prosecutor's Office is working with other agencies to provide social support to the crew while the investigation continues. The case highlights ongoing issues of vessel abandonment, with the International Transport Workers' Federation noting a record number of such incidents in 2025. 
