The US Coast Guard is allowed to board any ship-like thing in the US without probable cause or a warrant. A person on a boat has no reasonable expectation of privacy, the courts have ruled.
Further, they can seize any ship-like thing that has any trace of drugs aboard. So what ought I to do when I buy my (used) luxury yacht? May I call the local police and ask to borrow a drug dog for the afternoon? Should I do this before or after I complete the sale?
I mean it is a big investment, and I would like to reduce the risk.
I took a used minivan we had purchased down to the pass office at base, and while getting the DoD stickers for it asked if I could get the dogs to sniff it over to make sure it wasn’t hiding something. But then again, I bought it at a police impound lot sale. Took about 15 minutes to get the dog and handler to come over and run the dog around the caravan. I would imagine that if you asked the local cops if they could check out a vehicle for you they probably would.
Before you purchase, place an anonymous call to the authorities about the shipment of drugs being smuggled on the yacht. It will still be for sale afterwards, but possibly by a different seller.