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SS Politician was a cargo ship that ran aground off the coast of the Hebridean island of Eriskay in 1941. Its cargo included 22,000 cases of malt whisky and £3 million worth of Jamaican bank notes. Much of the whisky was recovered by islanders from across the Hebrides, although this was against the marine salvage laws. With no duty paid on the whisky, members of HM Customs and Excise became involved in chasing and prosecuting those who had removed the cargo.
Politician was built in 1923 under the name London Merchant. She was a general cargo ship that traded between Britain and the United States and Canada, and up and down the west coast of the US. In 1924—during the years of American prohibition—Oregon's state prohibition commissioner seized her cargo of whisky even though had been approved and sealed by the US federal authorities. After the British Embassy in Washington complained to the Federal authorities, the whisky was released back to the ship. During the Second World War Politician participated in the Atlantic convoys between the UK and US. In February 1941 she was on her way to the north of Scotland, where she was to rendezvous with a convoy when she ran aground.
The local islanders visited the wreck of Politician continually to unload whisky, even though it was in a hold filled with marine engine oil and seawater. Customs men undertook raids, arresting many and seizing boats of those they suspected of taking part. The excise authorities pushed for changes under the punitive customs legislation, but the authorities charged those arrested with theft. Many were found not guilty or not proven, and several were fined; 19 were incarcerated at Inverness Prison for terms ranging between 20 days and two months. The whisky raised by the salvors was shipped back to its bonded warehouses, although this was also looted during its journey. No-one was injured or killed in the accident. Two salvage crews removed much of the cargo, and the second crew raised the wreck off the seabed. Part of the ship's hold, and its stern, were cut away and sank to the bottom of Eriskay Sound. To ensure no more looting took place, the remainder of the hold was destroyed with gelignite.